As the NFL and NFLPA ratchet up the rhetoric in the ongoing labor dispute that could lead to a 2011 NFL Lockout, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has declared that if there is a work stoppage after the CBA expires in March, he will reduce his annual salary to $1. For those wondering, Goodell currently makes approximately $10 million per year including bonuses. In this letter to owners Goodell also indicated the NFL’s chief negotiator, Jeff Pash would have his salary reduced to $1. Pash apparently makes in the neighborhood of $5 million (a mighty nice neighborhood).

Naturally, this was followed by a tweet from NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith proclaiming that if a deal was done by the Super Bowl he would reduce his salary to 68 cents. Isn’t that just a fantastic offer?

I try to remain calm about all this but as these PR stunts are exchanged between the two sides it just strikes me as incredibly ridiculous. The Commish makes approximately $10 million per year. Cutting his salary to $1 would certainly impact the money he will make during that time, but I have a feeling he’s got some money stashed away, and he doesn’t have to worry about finding health care for his football-related injuries.

DeMaurice Smith made his counter but nobody expects a deal to be done by the Super Bowl. It’d be nice if they got such a deal done, but given the attitude between the two sides, it’s just as meaningless. I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors and in phone conversations between the two sides, but I pray these PR gestures are not all that is going on at this point.