Report: NFL owners prepare for work stoppage in 2021

Specifically, language reportedly foreshadowing a possible work stoppage in
2021.

According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday, the head-coaching
contracts negotiated in the last week contain wording that show "teams are
addressing how much each coach would make -- or lose -- in the event of a work
stoppage."

Teams are using different percentages based on the amount of game time that
could be missed in 2021 to determine how much money they would save in
coaching salary should there be a work stoppage, according to the report.

Schefter added that "both teams and coaches are confident that there will be
some type of disruption," and that similar language is expected to appear in
contracts for upcoming free agents.

The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in what would be
the third year of those new contracts.

Shortly after Schefter tweeted the news on Sunday, the official Twitter feed
of the NFL Players' Association tweeted back, "These contract provisions were
also seen in the lead up to the 2011 lockout. Take note."

After the owners and players were unable to come to an agreement before the
last CBA expired in March 2011, the owners locked the players out as
negotiations continued. That impasse lasted 132 days, coming to an end on July
25 with the Hall of Fame Game being the only on-field cancellation caused by
the lockout.

--Field Level Media