NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith would like to see a labor agreement with the league worked out quickly. "I think the players would love to have a deal done by November," Smith said. "The game is what is most important to the players." Smith's comments seem optimistic, given that both sides have spoken about a potential lockout next season. "We've mentioned a lockout only because that's what the league has been preparing for since 2007," Smith said. "Our job is to prepare our players for the worst even while we hope for the best."