BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns will make full refunds with interest on any tickets sold for games not played in the 2011 season.
Browns president Mike Holmgren said Monday the policy applies to "any ticket that is sold in the stadium, from regular seats through suites and so on." He added he is "hopeful and optimistic" the season will be played in full.
Q&A: What's next for players, NFL?
Now that DeMaurice Smith's NFL Players Association has decertified, NFL Network legal analyst Gabe Feldman breaks down the labor possibilities for both sides. **More...**
» FAQ about union decertification
» Official statements from NFLPA, NFL
» Commissioner Goodell's message to fans
» League details its proposal
» Emotions run high on all sides
» Watch: Smith addresses media
» Watch: Pash, Quinn explain sides
» Watch: NFLN analysts discuss situation
» Watch: Indiana Dean of Law analyzes
NFL owners locked out the players on Saturday, hours after the players' union dissolved and 10 players filed a request for an injunction in U.S. District Court that would stop the lockout.
"It is weird," Holmgren said of the current labor situation.
He emphasized there won't be any pay cuts for the coaching staff or any layoffs for team personnel during the work stoppage.
"When we talked about our philosophy and how to handle this, we are going ahead without any of that stuff," Holmgren said. "If the time comes where all of a sudden, financially, we are getting struck down it probably starts with me. I've got to contribute to the pot, although, I will go on record that I am not working for one dollar a year."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and lead negotiator Jeff Pash have lowered their salaries to that amount during the lockout.
"Our philosophy is that we are going to keep people working," Holmgren added. "When I said business as usual ... I was really referring to that. We have a lot of good people here working very, very hard doing their jobs and we will continue to do that."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
