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24 hours from when and an agreement on what? Post more when you've got it. Thanks jackie.Originally Posted by jackiejokeman
League, players' union agree to 24-hour extension in labor talks
- By Jason La Canfora NFL Network
- NFL Network Insider
- Published: March 3, 2011 at 10:31 a.m.
- Updated: March 3, 2011 at 05:29 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed Thursday to a 24-hour extension of the negotiating window for a new collective bargaining agreement, according to NFL Network's Kara Henderson.
Momentum to approve the idea of "stopping the clock" had been building all day Thursday as the sides met for over eight hours in front of federal mediator George Cohen.
The original deadline for the expiration of the current CBA had been 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday.
The terms of an extended deadline are open to negotiation, according to a league source. The amount of time, how it corresponds to the league year (can teams still sign existing free agents or cut players?) and the enforceability of the league's drug policy are eligible to be worked out between the sides, and that's what talks are centered on now.
The NFLPA isn't willing to take decerification -- as definied by the rights in the current CBA -- off the table, according to sources, just as the NFL is certain not to rule out the possibility of a lockout.
U.S. District Judge Dave Doty is in his chambers in Minnesota, and he is prepared to review whatever is put his way. However, Todd Winter, one of Doty's law clerks, said the office wouldn't comment on anything regarding the CBA negotiations at this time.
Doty would have to sign-off on any extension before it becomes valid.
A time extension or "stopping the clock" occured during the 2006 labor negotiations, and a deal ultimately was reached. The NFLPA also is prepared to decertify Thursday should there be no deal or extension.
If the union does decertify Thursday, sources told Breer that quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees would serve as the lead plaintiffs in any potential antitrust lawsuit filed against the league.
The union has been asking league owners to open their books and reveal more economic data about expenses and revenue. After meeting with mediator George Cohen on Wednesday night, the source said, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and his negotiating team were in a position where they would be inclined to reveal more financial data at Thursday's session.
The labor talks even have drawn the attention of the nation's first fan -- President Barack Obama.
"You have owners worth close to a billion, players making millions. The parties should be able to work it out," Obama said in a statement Thursday. "I'm a big football fan. For an industry making $9 billion, I'd hope they can figure out how to divide it up in a sensible way. ... I hope they can come to an agreement without me having to intervene."
Goodell and the NFL's negotiating team arrived at a federal mediator's headquarters about 45 minutes ahead of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and his group.
Staring at the first pro football work stoppage since 1987, Goodell said Thursday morning, "We're working hard."
Also on hand for the NFL were lead negotiator Jeff Pash, outside counsel Bob Batterman, New York Giants owner John Mara, Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and several other league executives. Mara and Murphy are members of the league's labor committee, which has the authority to call for a lockout if a new agreement isn't reached by midnight.
"We'll stay at it as long as it takes," Pash said before the 10th mediation session at Cohen's office.
The NFL and the players' union no longer have months or weeks or days to reach a new CBA. If they don't get it done now, a work stoppage is almost a certainty. America's most popular sport could see its 2011 season jeopardized.
Neither side is making optimistic proclamations.
"We're talking," union president Kevin Mawae said Wednesday. "It's better than not talking."
Are they making progress that could lead to a settlement in a dispute that involves $9 billion in revenues?
"I never have expectations, except to have A, B, C, D and E, and to always plan for F," Indianapolis Colts owner Jimmy Irsay said. "It changes. A chessboard that moves around and things happen at unusual hours."
The owners didn't spend much time Wednesday discussing where the negotiations stood, cutting their planned two-day meeting to a three-hour affair at a suburban hotel. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, also members of the labor committee, headed home rather than stick around for further talks with the union.
"We can't comment, and even more so, we're certainly still involved in our dialogue, and so there is no comment," Jones said.
Two people with knowledge of the NFL Players Association's plans told The Associated Press that the union was prepared to decertify Thursday, barring a last-minute breakthrough. That action means the union no longer would represent the players, who would give up their rights under labor law and instead take their chances in court under antitrust law. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the union hadn't made its plans public.
There was a flurry of activity Wednesday: a four-hour mediation session attended by all 10 members of the owners' labor committee, Mawae and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees; the three-hour owners meeting at a hotel 25 miles away in Chantilly, Va.; a one-hour meeting of the league's labor committee immediately after the owners broke up; the cancellation of another planned gathering of owners Thursday; and a private visit with Cohen starting at 8 p.m. by Goodell, two top league lawyers, Mara and Murphy.
Mara -- the first owner to attend the nine days of mediation, on Tuesday -- and Murphy left at 9:30 p.m., followed shortly by Goodell, Pash and Batterman.
"Long day," Mara said.
Asked the purpose of the 1½-hour evening meeting with Cohen, Pash said: "To speak with the mediator and get some direction."
Irsay said the owners welcomed the opportunity to be updated on negotiations, but there was little reason for them to remain in Washington as the deadline approaches.
"We had the chance to ask questions, but we didn't break with a lockout vote or anything like that," Irsay said.
Labor committee members who attended the talks Wednesday were: Mara, Murphy, Kraft, Jones, Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, Art Rooney II of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Brown of Cincinnati Bengals, Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs, Dean Spanos of the San Diego Chargers, and Pat Bowlen of the Denver Broncos.
Brees, a member of the NFLPA executive committee, and Mawae hadn't attended this round of mediated negotiations, which began Feb. 18. But now all members of the union's executive committee have been present at least once.
Because Cohen told both sides to stay silent publicly about the current talks, no one has revealed any specifics about what progress might have been made.
The biggest sticking point all along has been how to divide the league's revenues, including what cut team owners should get up front to help cover certain costs, such as stadium construction. Under the old deal, owners received about $1 billion off the top. They entered these negotiations seeking to add another $1 billion to that.
Among the other significant topics: a rookie wage scale; the owners' push to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games; and benefits for retired players.
Cohen said last week that the sides were far apart on the core issues.
By the end of Thursday, more will be known about exactly how far apart.
"I don't want to put any certainty on what this evening might bring or tomorrow might bring," Irsay said Wednesday. "It's really, truly hard to predict. These things change."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...e=HP_headlines
Whew.....thanks a lot Benji.
welcome
Someone needs to smack them all upside their heads and get them to end this crap and work out something already.
I'm seeing FAs getting signed. Thought that wouldn't happen until a new cba?
No, seeing Players CUT by teams being signed, while at the end of the day a f/a and players cut end up the same, for legal reaason's a player cut can be signed, but free agents need a new CBA.. i know kinds confusing, but the shockey's/oj/sanders were all cut
I see. Wondered what was going on.
wondered the same, like all things CBA related, nothing is simple or not confusing..: )
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