MLS Players not striking -- yet

Fears of a MLS players strike appear to have been kicked down the road. How far, though, is anyone's guess.

The Major League Soccer Players Union released a statement saying that while they weren't going to be signing an extension to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, they wouldn't be calling for a strike, either.

"We have advised our players to keep working for the time being, but as of Friday they will be doing so without a CBA." -- Bob Foose, Union Executive Director.

The players' release also said that while no negotiation dates have yet  been set, they do expect them to be continued.

MLS released its own statement saying they wouldn't be locking players out.

"We have told the Players Union that ... we are prepared to begin the season under the current CBA while we continue to bargain to reach agreement on a new CBA."

Tonight's midnight deadline was the second extension of the CBA which originally expired Jan. 31. Negotiations have been ongoing, but judging from recent statements issued by both sides, an agreement appears to be a ways off.

The Washington Post's Steven Goff reported via Twitter that players will stay with their teams, as opposed to becoming free agents.

UPDATE: After speaking to a labor organizer, I'm told that as long as the owners agree to play under the old CBA and players are not striking, status quo prevails. Essentially, the old CBA is in effect until one of the parties says they aren't willing to do that anymore.