Richardson believes deal will be reached
Jets fullback Tony Richardson shares a laugh with head coach Rex Ryan during stretching drills at practice. (Jan. 6, 2011) Credit: Joe Epstein
Tony Richardson acknowledged Tuesday night that Monday's decision by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the NFL lockout only will prolong the uncertainty of the league's labor situation. But the Jets' veteran fullback still believes there will be football for the 2011 season.
"The decision pushes things back, and it was a big step," Richardson said, referring to the court's move to give the league a full stay of the injunction that had briefly ended the lockout late last month. "But I'm believing there's going to be football. There's a process, and we don't quite know what this thing is going to look like. We just have to keep fighting and see how this thing plays out."
Richardson was honored Tuesday night at the 18th annual Gridiron Gala at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. The event, sponsored by the Giants and Jets to benefit the United Way, also honored Giants defensive lineman Chris Canty for his charitable work.
Richardson believes a deal can be worked out, even if the situation appears bleak in the wake of Monday's court ruling. A hearing on the NFL's appeal of the injunction that temporarily lifted the lockout will be June 3, and the two sides are expected to await the court's final ruling before proceeding with any serious negotiations. Representatives from the league and the players met Tuesday in federally mediated talks, but those discussions will be on hold until June 7.
Richardson acknowledged fans' frustration, and said the players were doing everything possible to work out a deal that he says needs to be fair to both sides.
"It's a process, and yes, it's hurting a lot of people," he said. "We're trying to get back on the field as fast as we can.''
Richardson said he especially feels for rookie players who can't participate with their teams. That includes everyone from first-round picks to undrafted free agents, who have been prohibited from signing because of the lockout. Richardson was an undrafted free agent in 1994 and signed with the Cowboys, playing on their practice squad.
"Think about Mark Sanchez," Richardson said of the Jets' quarterback. "If he would have been in this situation, there's no way he would have gone to back-to-back AFC Championship Games. This is going to slow the growth of a lot of players.''
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