Union: NFL players, owners sense urgency in talks

[December 29, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Union executive committee member Brian Dawkins says he believes NFL owners and players have a sense of urgency to avoid a lockout because they don't want to alienate fans.

The veteran Denver Broncos safety said Tuesday "we understand who butters our bread."

Dawkins and fellow NFL Players Association executive committee member Mike Vrabel alternated between optimism and expressing frustration with the league's proposals. They spoke during a conference call to discuss negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Vrabel is a veteran linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. He says the NFL's offers to players in exchange for an 18-game regular season were "not enough return on investment for our bodies."

[Associated Press]

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