By KEVIN McNAMARA

FOXBORO - The NFL's new Player's Association head, DeMaurice Smith, is at Gillette Stadium today and just met with the local press.
Smith is hard at work trying to extend a player's contract that dramatically changes at the end of this season. In 2010, the salary cap is due to be abolished. That will allow free agents to negotiate wages with any team.

Smith, who is in his first full year as the head of the union, would like to see the players and owners agree to an extension. Fast. Or at least well ahead of the coming off-season.

"I remain optimistic we can get a deal done," said Smith. "I remain optimistic because I have to believe that as we are battling our way through a recession...we have to set an example for the rest of America. Business has been good for all of us and now is not the time to set a lock-out of our game."

Smith said he recently met with the NFL's league brass and said he received some ``great proposals." "There are things that I like that are good for our games," he said.

Asked if he regards the current situation as `urgent' Smith said "On a scale of one to 10, the urgency to get a deal done is about a 14."