NFLPA Leader On Lockout: 'On A Scale Of 1 to 10, It's A 14'

SB Nation's Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride is on the ground in South Florida, providing reports, commentary and impressions from Super Bowl week.

As I was walking out of the media center this afternoon, I noticed quite a bit of security nearly pushing me out of the way and escorting a short man into the building and up the stairs.

That man may be short but he’s a major power player in the future of the NFL.

DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Player’s Association, conducted a press conference this afternoon and painted a bleak picture regarding the possibility of a lockout effectively stopping the games starting in 2011.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 14."

(Note: That question was asked by none other than Chad Ochocinco of OCNN)

Smith also called going back to a salary cap system "virtually impossible" should a new deal not be done by March 5th, the start of a new league year.

In other words, the business of the NFL as we know it will more than likely be completely different one month from today.

Roger Goodell will likely respond at his press conference tomorrow afternoon. I will be in attendance and plan on reporting back in this space immediately following the conclusion.