On March 25, it sure looked like the NFL and NFLRA were hurtling toward a fall with the sorts of finishes to games we got in 2012 —the league looked dug in, the officials looked worn out and a conclusion seemed a long way off. The two sides had convened in South Florida that morning, with bargaining teams set for a two-day negotiation aimed at breaking a months-long stalemate. Instead, the talks didn’t even make it to the first lunch break, stopping before noon when it became obvious no progress was going to be made. The NFLRA had presented a proposal to the NFL officials in attendance, and asked for a counterproposal. NFL exec Larry Ferazani told union negotiators that he wasn’t authorized to make one, and then his group got up and left. NFL representatives claimed the union refused to engage on measures the league proposed aimed at improving performance. The NFLRA reiterated that the NFL refused to negotiate at all. The impasse was frustrating. But it also led to a breakthrough.…