As the NFL preseason rolls along, football is officially back. Enjoy it while it's here.

In the mind of NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, labor peace between the league and union is a ticking timebomb toward a work stoppage.

During an interview with MMQB, Smith basically predicted a work stoppage in 2021.

"I think that the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout is almost a virtual certainty," Smith said.

The league had a 132-day lockout in 2011 that led to an eventual 10-year agreement. Now we could be staring down something worse when the current agreement expires.

When asked if games could be missed in 2021, Smith painted an ominous picture.

"I don't know now, but I mean let's look at our history," Smith said. "The owners do a deal in 2006 and opt out in 2008. We do a deal in 2011 with no opt-outs because we like the benefits under the current deal and we didn't want to give the owners an opportunity to opt out and take back the gains that we currently have.

"If there is no renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement and we reach 2021, there is no uncapped year, right? Because the last time we went through it, we found out the owners lied and cheated about the uncapped year. So why would I do that again?"

As for why Smith feels this way? The union head sounded like a leader who feels his side hasn't gotten its way lately.

"All of the mutual benefits that were supposed to happen as a result of the opt-out didn't happen last time," Smith said. "Owners colluded with each other, and we found out they colluded with each other. And all of the bad things that went to the players happened, and none of the bad things that went to the owners happened. So we have a new deal where if it doesn't get fixed, you head into a certain 'small-a' Armageddon."

With the current NFL agreement more than halfway complete, expect this to become a big story in the coming years.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.