Preliminary discussions began last month over a new

CBA agreement between the league and the players union" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBehind the Steel Curtaina Pittsburgh Steelers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSteelersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsFiled under:Latest NewsNFL has opening discussions with NFLPA about a new labor agreementNew Donnie Shell Jersey ,16commentsPreliminary discussions began last month over a new CBA agreement between the league and the players unionEDTShareTweetShareShareNFL has opening discussions with NFLPA about a new labor agreementPhoto by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Bud LiteWhile the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is not due to end until after the 2020 season, it would appear that league officials have already begun preliminary discussions with their counterparts from the NFLPA. As per a report by Kevin Draper and Ken Belson of the New York Times on Tuesday, NFL executives initiated conversations with the players union last month, holding two meetings that were surprisingly characterized as amicable given the animosity that has been evident between the two sides as of late.Hoping to avoid the 136-day lockout that accompanied the last CBA negotiations in 2011, the earlier a deal can be agreed the better for all concerned. However, with NFLPA president Eric Winston actively still telling the players to prepare for a lockout as recently as February, those involved in these initial discussions understand that there is still plenty of work to be done at this stage. As New York Giants owner John Mara noted when talking to Jarrett Bell of USA Today last week. According to The New York Times report, the first meeting between the two sides was a chance for each party to lay out the goals they hope to achieve with the next CBA Rod Woodson Jersey , with the players looking for an increase in their share of league revenue that currently pays them around 48 percent of the total.Faced with re-negotiating their media contracts with their broadcast partners in 2022, the sooner the NFL can agree a long term deal with the NFLPA, the stronger their position will be in those negotiations in the minds of league officials. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell among those hoping for a quick resolution with the players union.With the NFLPA apparently also looking to agree a deal before Winston’s term as president ends in March of 2021, both sides have their own incentives to get an agreement done quickly. But with issues like marijuana, increasing minimum salaries and performance based bonuses expected to be sticking points for the players, while teams look for increased practice time and more mandatory training session, it is unlikely to happen anytime soon. And as cordial as the discussions are right now, it would not be a surprise if past hostilities rear their head once again when negotiations begin to bog down. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The excuses aren’t hard to find if the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the mood to look for them.The false start that wasn’t called on a play that ended with a Los Angeles Chargers touchdown . The apparent block in the back that helped spring Chargers punt returner Desmond King for the game-tying score.The weird floater by Ben Roethlisberger on a pass that slipped out of his hand and landed into the awaiting arms of Los Angeles rookie safety Derwin James.Yet the Steelers understand it’s pointless and expensive to complain Mike Wagner Jersey , one of the reasons coach Mike Tomlin opted not to vent — publicly anyway — after his team let a 16-point lead slip away in a 33-30 loss to the Chargers on Sunday night that reduced Pittsburgh’s once comfortable cushion in the AFC North to mere percentage points over second-place Baltimore heading into the final month of the season.“I am going to keep my mouth shut,” Tomlin said after his team dropped its second straight to fall to 7-4-1, just ahead of the Ravens at 7-5. “I am going to do that because I send enough money (in fines to NFL headquarters) in New York.”Tomlin understands the calls the officials do or don’t make are out of his hands. His team’s ability to avoid losing with a 16-point advantage at home — something the Steelers had been able to do 174 out of the previous 175 times it happened in franchise history — is another matter entirely. One that is far more troubling than a handful of questionable decisions by referee Bill Vinovich’s crew.“We didn’t establish rhythm in the beginning of the second half,” Tomlin said. “We had a couple drives killed by penalties, holding penalties, it’s catastrophic.”Pittsburgh took the second-half kickoff and moved into Los Angeles territory only to see a 22-yard gain by James Conner wiped out when officials flagged left guard Ramon Foster for holding. The Steelers punted three plays later.Pittsburgh’s second possession of the third quarter appeared to be picking up steam when left tackle Alejandro Villanueva was called for holding. The drive stalled and Jordan Berry punted yet again.King fielded it at the Chargers 27, slipped past a couple of tacklers — including Pittsburgh’s Brian Allen, who may have been helped to the ground thanks to a shove on the back of his right shoulder by Los Angeles gunner Rayshawn Jenkins — and raced down the right sideline for a touchdown that helped tie the game at 23.The Chargers didn’t need any assistance Rocky Bleier Jersey , however, in taking control in the fourth quarter. Philip Rivers led Los Angeles on scoring drives of 79 and 64 yards on the Chargers’ final two drives, facing just two third downs in the process.The Steelers did not get called for a defensive penalty on either of the drives. Instead, Los Angeles simply did whatever it wanted against a defense that couldn’t seem to get in the right position.“You can’t say anything about our offense, our offense scored 30 points,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “As a defense, we’re not getting the job done. I don’t look for anybody else to say that the officials did this or anything else, we didn’t get the job done as a defense.”And now Pittsburgh faces a daunting stretch if it wants to lock up a fifth straight playoff berth. The Steelers visit hapless Oakland next Sunday Joe Gilliam Jersey , a meeting that looks like a mismatch. Yet the Raiders have always been trouble for Pittsburgh, particularly on the road.The Steelers haven’t won in Oakland since 1995. They fell to the Raiders at the Coliseum in 2012 and 2013 to teams that finished 4-12 both seasons.In 2006 Pittsburgh headed west as the reigning Super Bowl champions and somehow lost to a squad that went 2-14.After that it’s a visit by the New England Patriots then a visit to New Orleans two days before Christmas before wrapping up the regular season at Heinz Field against Cincinnati.A shot at earning one of the two seeds — a position the Steelers were in the mix for after a six-game winning streak had them at 7-2-1 — appears gone. At this point, holding off the resurgent Ravens is no given.“We can’t seem to win it at home right now,” Foster said. “So maybe we’ll be great playoff road warriors.”NOTES: WR Ryan Switzer is in the concussion protocol after taking an illegal hit from Los Angeles linebacker Jatavis Brown in the fourth quarter. … RB James Conner is dealing with a left leg contusion.