During an appearance on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Hall of Fame Chicago Bears tight end and former NFL head coach Mike Ditka cautioned the NFL and the players about being greedy.

"I hear that [lockout] talk and I just can't believe anybody is that stupid," Ditka said. "If the owners or the players are that stupid that they are going to shoot this golden goose...I mean it's laying golden eggs. It's a multi-billion dollar business. It's the most popular sport in this country, don't kill it.

"Don't be greedy. Greed has killed a lot of things in the world. Don't be greedy. There's a way to work out every situation if you're willing to work it out."

If the rhetoric spewed by both sides during appearances on ESPN's "The Mike & Mike Show" this week is any indication of where things stand, those with seats at the negotiating already have the golden goose in the kill cone.