Sherman anticipates lockout when CBA expires

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is bracing for the worst, even with the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NFL and NFLPA intact for the next few seasons.

The current CBA is scheduled to expire in 2021, and though Sherman and other player representatives have plenty of time to prepare their arguments, the 49ers star said they are bracing for a work stoppage.

"There wasn't concern," Sherman said Thursday during his media availability about a potential lockout. "It's going to happen, so it's not like guys are guessing on that one."

Prior to the latest CBA, the NFL was stuck in a work stoppage imposed by the league's owners which spanned from March-July 2011.

Sherman believes the previous lockout set a precedent for the players.

"Because there was a lockout before," Sherman said. "We don't plan on changing anything about the deal we currently have right now, so I don't think it's going to be negotiated before the end of the CBA, so it's going to cause a lockout and we'll deal with it from there."

There's plenty of time for both sides to reach a consensus, but for the time being, Sherman and other player reps across the league will be focused on finding an agreement that meets their list of demands.

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