The union argued that it is still a hard cap because the ceiling would kick in eventually.

Owners wanted to create a hard cap for team payroll.

A hard cap represents a maximum amount that may not be exceeded for any reason.

They're entrenched with what they want, which is a hard cap.

And we feel with a hard cap, we as players, cannot survive.

"The players are saying we don't want a hard cap because that will eliminate the middle class," Granik said.

This is in contrast to a "hard cap" on emissions, for which the overall amount cannot increase.

"I don't think it has to be a hard cap, and in fact some of the things we're talking about now are not hard caps."

The government plan uses production intensity targets instead of hard caps.

Hunter said: "We're determined not to play under the hard cap.