National Football League

Indiana lawmakers urge NFL, players to reach deal

Published Feb. 24, 2011 11:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Lawmakers from Indiana, home of next season's Super Bowl, are urging the NFL and players union to avoid a work stoppage that would have a "devastating impact" on the state's economy.

Indiana GOP Sens. Dan Coats and Richard Lugar, along with all nine House members from the state, made their plea Thursday in a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and union head DeMaurice Smith. The lawmakers said that their state, in particular, has a large stake in a deal being reached.

The league's collective bargaining agreement with its players expires at the end of the day next Thursday. The union has said it expects a lockout to come as soon as the next day, threatening the 2011 season.