How did the Verbal Handshake almost turn Into a Symbolic F You?

While the NBA and the NBPA were descending into the lockout abyss, it looked as if the NFL and its player were ready to emerge in harmony from their lockout inferno. In fact, it was only Wednesday where Player Head DeMaurice Smith invited NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to jointly address the NFLPA Rookies at the NFL Rookie Symposium in Sarasota, Florida.

However, that optimism soured when Smith and Goodel returned to the bargaining table yesterday,