Steelers President Art Rooney Still “Optimistic” a Deal Will Get Done

Steelers president Art Rooney II remains “optimistic” the 2011 season will not be interrupted by the league’s first work stoppage since 1987 according to Scott Brown and Carl Prine of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

“It’s only April, so there’s certainly time to get it done,” Rooney said. “But the other side of the coin is sooner or later we’ve got to get serious, and I hope it’s sooner.”

When asked the significance of Wednesday’s hearing with Judge Susan Richard Nelson, Rooney said, “It’s hard to read much into it at this point. We just have to wait and see what the result is. Hopefully it leads us back to the bargaining table. Sooner or later that’s what has to happen. There can’t be a resolution without that happening.