I don't think they will know until something happens, or doesn't, which is why they have to proceed as if the rules in place will in fact be the rules in place. I read somewhere a while ago - and it may have been speculation - that the owners would demand the rules remain in place for 2010 because they had to anticipate that for an entire season. Depending on the tradeoff involved, the union may agree to feed those players to the lions...