Clark Confident That the Lockout Will End Soon

Steelers safety and player representative Ryan Clark is optimistic that the lockout will end soon, reports Ray Fittipaldo of the Post-Gazette.

“The last few weeks have been very positive on the whole,” Clark said after a conference call with NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and teammate Charlie Batch on Friday. “Both sides are actively pursuing a deal and getting this thing done. It’s been very positive in all aspects.

“People on the outside are getting more optimistic the more the media talks about it, but for those of us on the inside, for those of us in the know, we’ve been excited.”

Several media outlets have reported that Smith briefed the player reps on what Friday’s surprise (in timing only) ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals means to the negotiations. Clark does not feel the ruling will have a big impact on the talks.

“They didn’t provide an injunction, but they never said it was lawful,” Clark said. “(Owners) would still be subject to damages. So is it a total loss? No, not at all. We’d have to go back to court and file again.

“The lockout isn’t lawful, and it’s costing a lot of people money. We don’t want to go that route. Hopefully, with the way talks have been going, they’ll get this thing hammered out.”