Is This Thing On?

Don't mind me ... just kicking the tires in case these gentlemen ever extricate their rectally inverted collective crania and give us back our game.

NFL lockout talks progressing, but...

And on the seventh day of "secret" talks there was still no immediate agreement between the NFL and NFLPA to end the lockout, but sources on both sides maintained they're getting close.

Just how close is a matter of opinion, but everyone around the league seemed to continue their cautious optimism that a new and lengthy collective bargaining agreement is on the horizon after generally positive discussions at the talks which are still going Wednesday afternoon in Maryland. The general feeling remained that there's a good chance a deal can be reached in time to preserve all of training camp and the full preseason and regular-season schedules.

Many, in fact, continue to expect a deal to be reached by early July.

That said, many sources took a more cautious tone Wednesday, one day after many reports suggesting a deal was "almost done" or even "80-85 percent complete". Those sources characterized those reports as overly optimistic and said crafting a long-term CBA with so many moving parts is a complicated process and there were still chances for future snags or delays...

Not holding my breath though. Life's too short for this shit.