The 32 owners of NFL teams voted unanimously this morning to shorten the collective bargaining agreement it has with the players and open negotiations on a new deal.

This will have no immediate effect on the NFL. The league will operate as usual during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

If there is no agreement reached on a new CBA before the 2010 season, that season will be played without a salary cap. Owners would be permitted to pay players as much as they wish to obtain their services.

If there is no agreement in place before the start of the 2011 season, a strike by the players or lockout by the owners is possible.

Owners took this action because they believe the players receive too big a share of the game's revenues -- 60 percent. The owners also say their costs for stadium construction, operations and improvements have increased.