Richard Sherman, who has served as one of the NFLPA's vice presidents since 2014, fully expects to see a lockout before a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is reached. The current deal runs through the 2020 season. Sherman warns that after that, fans are likely to see a player lockout similar to the one which occurred during the 2011 offseason.
"It's going to happen," Sherman said on Thursday. "It's not like guys are guessing on that one."
Why does the San Francisco 49ers cornerback believe that a lockout is inevitable?
"Because there was a lockout before (in 2011)," Sherman responded. "We don't plan on changing anything about the deal that we currently have right now. I don't think it's going to be negotiated before the end of the CBA. It's going to cause a lockout, and then we'll deal with it from there."
Sherman recently joined the "Adam Schefter Podcast" and said that players are better prepared this time around for a potential work stoppage.
"I think that the players' side is definitely more prepared for a potential work stoppage this time around," Sherman said. "I think we have more contingency plans in place. Our players are more informed, the process is more transparent, and I think we really have keyed (in on) what we're going to be looking for in these negotiations."