NFL parties held secret meeting in Chicago

[mudloggerone]

rotoworld,
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that NFLPA* chief DeMaurice Smith and other union officials met with top NFL owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday.
The clandestine meeting may be the most positive labor news of the offseason. The sides are reportedly "a ways" from a deal, but it's a great sign they met now without mediation. The Chicago-area meeting was supposed to remain a secret, but planes were spotted Wednesday. Schefter believes there is "hope" a deal could be reached by the end of the month. That sounds optimistic, but we'll take a little optimism right now. Source: ESPN.com

 

[mudloggerone]

rotoworld,

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the players and owners hope that Wednesday's meeting in Chicago "lays a foundation" for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to be reached "later this month."
Schefter cautions that no deal is imminent, and NFL Network's Jason La Canfora is not aware that any major breakthroughs occurred at Wednesday's meeting. "But talking is encouraging," writes Schefter. It's believed that some players also attended, in addition to commissioner Roger Goodell.

 

[Phicinfan]

Reality has finally hit?:dunno:

Fact is neither side will win in a litigation battle. the only way to get this fixed is to negotiate at the table. Hopefully this is a solid start. Alot will happen tomorrow probably. With the next court date.

only time will tell, but I still think they will be in camp on time. Just me though...

 

[mudloggerone]

The U.S. District court in Minnesota has canceled mediation sessions scheduled for next week to begin "confidential settlement talks" with the NFL and the NFLPA.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan is pushing for a settlement now, taking advantage of the uncertainty and lack of leverage on both sides before the Eighth Circuit issues a ruling on the lockout. The players have been pushing for serious talks with the "power-broker" owners as opposed to attorneys, and this is a step in the right direction. As NFL Network's Albert Breer points out, terms of the next CBA were included in the settlement reached back in 1993.


Oh the source is rotoworld, sorry.

 

[Sgt John]

I wont buy it till I see real action.

 

[storminn0rm]

At least they are "talking" in secret. Maybe they are playing the game of Risk, owners vs players vs Goodell. The winner gets what they want. That is why it's taking so long. Risk can take forever.

 

[Phicinfan]

This is really, really good. It is no longer just lip service to the court order, it is both parties, and movers and shakers of both parties meeting and discussing the actual CBA, not litigation.

If this can keep up, I saw one estimate of an agreement in 3 weeks. My bet is, they reach agreement by July 4th, so camps can start on time.

 

[mudloggerone]

Source: Mike Freeman - CBSSports.com

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com had some encouraging news Thursday. He wrote, "There is a still a great deal of work to do, and any progress could unravel any day, hour or minute, but it appears NFL owners and players have made significant headway in reaching a new labor agreement, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.


"One high-ranking member of the former union estimated to me a new deal could be reached within two to three weeks. "This is the most optimistic I've been in many months," he said."

[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]

Freeman is careful to not get too excited. As he says, there is still miles to go. And things can change in a matter of minutes. But it's encouraging to hear that progress is being made. We still are adamant that while it may be an ugly path to get there, we'll have a normal regular season. Stay tuned.

 

[Coachnorm]

At least there are talks going on.

 

[mudloggerone]

rotoworld,

Multiple sources familiar with this week's discussions tell CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman that "significant headway" had been made toward a new labor agreement.
Both sides are still cautioning that talks could fall apart at a moment's notice, but optimism is breaking through for the first time since early March. This week's talks have been more productive than all preceding mediation discussions combined, according to one source in the NFLPA. That progress has been chalked up to three primary factors: the absence of lawyers (specifically Jeff Pash, whom the players "despise"), the ability of Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones to soften hard-line, small-market owners, and De Smith ratcheting up negotiations at the players' request.

 

[mudloggerone]

ST. LOUIS
The ugliness is back.

Earlier this week, the NFL and its players seemingly were making progress toward a new labor deal. “Secret” talks were held outside a courtroom or mediator’s office for the first time since well before the previous collective-bargaining agreement expired in mid-March. Finally, there was a tangible reason to believe the league might reopen its doors and the 2011 season would be played as scheduled.

Then came Friday’s legal skirmish that threw a soaking wet blanket on any such optimism.

Lawyers slow progress in NFL labor fight after Eight Circuit Court hearing - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN



They need to keep the lawyers far, far away. Lawyers bill by the hour so they have every reason to drag this thing out.

 

[Phicinfan]

Last report I heard on radio says the trial is not effecting the talks. They are goign to continue the talks without lawyers to try and get this settled.

 

[mudloggerone]

Spokesmen for cbs still saying that a deal could be struck before the court rules in JUly.

Citing multiple sources, CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman reports a deal could be reached between the owners and players before the Eight Circuit issues a ruling on the lockout, likely in July. Analysis: The talks are delicate, and a settlement hinges on keeping the attorneys out of the negotiating room. SI.com's Peter King backs Freeman's report while making it clear that a deal is no sure thing. "But I'm more optimistic about a settlement than I've been in a while," adds King. Tom Brady, whose name headelines anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, is "relatively confident" that a deal will be struck.

 

[mudloggerone]

NEW YORK
Despite recent developments in the labor battle that are seen as positive by some, the NFL is planning for a regular season as short as eight games, the Sports Business Journal reported Monday.

Report: The NFL is making plans for a regular season as short as eight games - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN



Yuck!

 

[Coachnorm]

Not much of a Fantasy Football season if that turns out to be the case.

 

[mudloggerone]

Owners and players resumed labor negotiations Tuesday at an undisclosed location, according to NFL Network's Albert Breer.
Any talks are good talks, though it's not yet known if the attorneys were involved this time. Regardless, there's now optimism that a deal will be struck by July. "Hope floats," says Andrew Brandt, ESPN's NFL Business Analyst. Source: Albert Breer on Twitter

 

[mudloggerone]

Here's a slightly different update.

Owners and players resumed "very serious" negotiations Tuesday at an undisclosed location, according to NFL Network's Albert Breer.
The discussions are expected to extend over "several days," and Breer emphasizes the two sides have now entered a "very critical phase of negotiations." Profootballtalk confirms the lawyers on both sides are once again absent. There's now optimism among national voices that a deal will be struck by July. "Hope floats," says Andrew Brandt, ESPN's NFL Business Analyst. Source: Albert Breer on Twitter

 

[mudloggerone]

Citing sources on both sides of the labor squabble, NFL Network's Albert Breer reports the owners and players understand that "the time to bargain seriously is now."
One league source estimates a timetable of 4-6 weeks from "serious negotiations" to the process of drafting a new CBA. Another source suggests a 30-day window, beginning this week, is needed to finalize a deal. Per Breer, keeping the lockout in place past August 1 will cost the NFL $350 million. Canceling the preseason would escalate to $1 billion lost. Both sides realize "the pie will shrink" if they don't strike a deal soon. Source: NFL.com

 

[mudloggerone]

According to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "word on the street" is that 2010 free agency rules will apply once the lockout is lifted.
It's impossible to know how reliable Kelly's sources are, so take this buzz with a hefty grain of salt. Kelly has also been told that NFL coaches have been advised to take their vacations this month because they're expected to be "busy in July." There is apparently a "growing sentiment" that a deal will be struck before the July 4th weekend. Should free agency revert to 2010 rules, four- and five-year veterans such as DeAngelo Williams will be restricted free agents. Source: Omar Kelly on Twitter

 

[mudloggerone]

According to the New York Post, commissioner Roger Goodell and union boss DeMaurice Smith met for a private dinner in New York Wednesday night.
The meeting was said to be "very productive." It's another encouraging sign that trust is being repaired on both sides now that the attorneys are on the sidelines. While admitting that there's still "a lot of hard work left," Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed optimism about the recent labor discussions Thursday. "I think we're getting close to having to put this thing to bed, so we don't miss any events," predicted Kraft. Source: New York Post