Source: NFL, players resume secret talks

**soulman** · 06-09-2011, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by dabears54

NFL, players acknowledge talks

NEW YORK -- Whether they are meeting in secret locations or in the middle of Times Square at rush hour, talks between NFL owners and players are a good sign.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has been saying that ever since the lockout began on March 12. Players, agents and lawyers familiar with the negotiating process second the notion.

Both sides met Wednesday for a second straight day in New York, with Judge Arthur Boylan joining Goodell and NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith. It was the second time this week that the sides got together. Last week, they met twice near Chicago.

Also on hand were five team owners and five players. That's a critical component for reaching a new collective bargaining agreement.
"Having meetings on a regular basis is not nearly as important as having productive talks," said agent Ben Dogra, whose clients include Patrick Willis and Sam Bradford. "If having productive talks encompasses meeting on a regular basis, then it is a good for them to meet as often as possible."

Both sides seem ready to do that as they await a ruling about the legality of the lockout from the federal appeals court in St. Louis. The factions aren't due back in court until August. On Wednesday, Judge Susan Nelson moved up a hearing for the league's motion to dismiss the players' antitrust suit from Sept. 12 to Aug. 29 -- nine days before the regular season is scheduled to begin.

"NFL owners and players continue to be engaged in confidential discussions before Chief Magistrate Judge Boylan," the two sides said in a joint statement. "Both sides met again this week as part of ongoing court mediation. Those discussions are expected to continue."
A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press that the owners and players will meet again "soon and often. That means in the near future, not in a month or anything like that."

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were supposed to remain confidential.

On hand at the latest talks were owners John Mara of the New York Giants, Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, Clark Hunt of the Kansas city Chiefs and Dean Spanos of the San Diego Chargers.
Representing the players were NFLPA President Kevin Mawae, Mike Vrabel, Tony Richardson, Domonique Foxworth and Jeff Saturday.
Goodell told Buccaneers ticket holders Wednesday that "any time we're talking that's a positive because I believe both sides want to find solutions."

"I believe it's the objective of everybody involved with the NFL to play a full 2011 season," Goodell said during the conference call. "That's certainly what we're working towards, and I think the players are working towards that, too. It's for the good of the game, it's for the good of the people involved in the game, and it's absolutely good for the fans."

But don't get too excited about the recent talks.

"I don't think having the meetings is necessarily a sign for optimism," Dogra said. "But the fact both sides are meeting and will continue to meet in undisclosed locations, and that ownership is present, is a good sign that both parties are continuing to talk through the issues."

Added Don Yee, agent for Tom Brady and an adjunct law professor at Southern Cal: "I think it is far too early for optimism. Generally, nothing in the sports business happens until the very last minute, and we're nowhere close to that yet."

Still, the timing is crucial. Although June usually is a slow month in the NFL, teams already would have signed free agents and some rookies; held mini-camps and offseason training activities; and laid out plans for a full training camp beginning at the end of July.
But other than conducting the draft in late April, the NFL has been dormant.

"I'm still optimistic we're going to have 16 games," said Bengals guard Bobbie Williams, an alternate player representative. "July is not here yet, and June just started. We still have time here to get this thing done. Now when July starts running out, then it's a different ballgame. Come ask me again."

Cautious optimism is how I'd describe my feelings about it right now. At least the have the principal decision makers face to face so that's a good start.

**Dagan81** · 06-09-2011, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

Cautious optimism is how I'd describe my feelings about it right now. At least the have the principal decision makers face to face so that's a good start.

I wonder if they have ever fallen into a burning ring of fire?

I have to agree. It's sort of like the old Russian maxim that Ronald Reagan was so fond of quoting back in the 1980s: "Trust, but verify." I'll believe that something will happen when I actually see it come to fruition. I won't get my hopes up until something actually does happen. Until then, I guess I will watch the Yankees beat the majority of the American League teams that reside outside the city limits of Boston and let life become a bushel of sour grapes.

**dabears54** · 06-10-2011, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

Cautious optimism is how I'd describe my feelings about it right now. At least the have the principal decision makers face to face so that's a good start.

yep and Ny daily news reporting after the meeting both godell and smith went to dinner and it was 'jovial".. so take it for what its worth- but do think 'real" progress is being made, and the less hear now, now more confident its real and not media bluster.. like that had top players and owner's there again an no lawyers.. always makes it better : )

**soulman** · 06-10-2011, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I wonder if they have ever fallen into a burning ring of fire?

I have to agree. It's sort of like the old Russian maxim that Ronald Reagan was so fond of quoting back in the 1980s: "Trust, but verify." I'll believe that something will happen when I actually see it come to fruition. I won't get my hopes up until something actually does happen. Until then, I guess I will watch the Yankees beat the majority of the American League teams that reside outside the city limits of Boston and let life become a bushel of sour grapes.

That was what the players were looking for when they asked to see the books and it didn't happen. I think that will come off the table and the owners will make some concessions regarding the future of revenue sharing and they'll finally get this thing going. It's obvious that those books contain things the owners do not want made public either in negotiations or in court. That's one of the resaons for these closed talks.

**Dagan81** · 06-10-2011, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

That was what the players were looking for when they asked to see the books and it didn't happen. I think that will come off the table and the owners will make some concessions regarding the future of revenue sharing and they'll finally get this thing going. It's obvious that those books contain things the owners do not want made public either in negotiations or in court. That's one of the resaons for these closed talks.

Two or three franchises, of which the Bears are one of, have offered to hand over their books for inspection by the player's union. I just don't get what is so personal about them. If the Bears were willing to do it, and maybe for the sake of argument that the organization is one of the cleaner organizations in terms of bookkeeping, then why aren't the other teams outside of Chicago and whoever else will to give it up? It makes NO sense.

**Riczaj01** · 06-10-2011, 09:05 PM

Cowherd reported that there was a new hampshire news paper stating a deal would be done before next week. Lets hope. I don't think either is confident in what the courts are going to do...and that is good for all of us.

**Dagan81** · 06-10-2011, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Cowherd reported that there was a new hampshire news paper stating a deal would be done before next week. Lets hope. I don't think either is confident in what the courts are going to do...and that is good for all of us.

According to a message board that I looked at, Pro Football Talk debunked it.

**Riczaj01** · 06-11-2011, 09:50 AM

An article from PFT has the framework happening in two weeks....wow that's some major debunking right there. Doesn't say anything is definate, but that is what they are hearing/and is being reported by multiple sources. So one place has it will be done in 2 wks, another just the framework. Either way that is major strides, and a deal closing quickly.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/11/

framework-for-agreement-could-come-in-two-weeks/amework for agreement could come in two weeks

Posted by Mike Florio on June 11, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
Getty Images Though it’s still way too early to claim that the lockout is “over” or “almost over,” the signs of progress continue to emerge.
The latest? Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the the “expectation is for a framework agreement in about two weeks.”
Kaplan’s report meshes with other chatter we’re hearing. None of it may mean much in isolation, but taken together it suggests that teams are now operating under the assumption that the full season — with preseason and training camp — will unfold as scheduled.
Though there’s still no specific reason to believe a settlement definitely will happen, the sense of optimism not only has lasted for well over a week but also has consistently grown. Soon, conventional wisdom could be that the failure to do a deal will be a major upset.

**dabears54** · 06-12-2011, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

An article from PFT has the framework happening in two weeks....wow that's some major debunking right there. Doesn't say anything is definate, but that is what they are hearing/and is being reported by multiple sources. So one place has it will be done in 2 wks, another just the framework. Either way that is major strides, and a deal closing quickly.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/11/

framework-for-agreement-could-come-in-two-weeks/amework for agreement could come in two weeks

Posted by Mike Florio on June 11, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
Getty Images Though it’s still way too early to claim that the lockout is “over” or “almost over,” the signs of progress continue to emerge.
The latest? Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the the “expectation is for a framework agreement in about two weeks.”
Kaplan’s report meshes with other chatter we’re hearing. None of it may mean much in isolation, but taken together it suggests that teams are now operating under the assumption that the full season — with preseason and training camp — will unfold as scheduled.
Though there’s still no specific reason to believe a settlement definitely will happen, the sense of optimism not only has lasted for well over a week but also has consistently grown. Soon, conventional wisdom could be that the failure to do a deal will be a major upset.

agreed, another good sign, really like to get my june deadline done : )

Seems the more rational people starting to prevail and put pressure on the obstinate fools that want to dig in( which helps no one)...

**dabears54** · 06-12-2011, 08:07 AM

Reports hint new CBA could happen by late June

Posted by Ryan Wilson

For the first time since the lockout began 91 days ago, there appears to be genuine optimism that owners, coaches, players and fans will be able to get on with their football-loving lives, and it could happen in the next few weeks.

CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman was the first to report reasons for optimism. Way back on June 2, Freeman wrote that "There is a still a great deal of work to do ... but it appears the 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 would be reached within two to three weeks, if not sooner. 'This is the most optimistic I’ve been in many months,' he said."

Barely a week later, that appears to be happening.

Friday night, NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that players and owners have made substantial progress in recent days towards a new collective bargaining agreement.

And Saturday morning, Sports Business Journal's Daniel Kaplan tweeted: "Told optimism is so high in NFL, players talks over labor deal that expectation is for a framework agreement in about two weeks."

But it gets better. The Houston Chronicle's Lance Zierlein recently blogged that "According to a couple of sources, NFL lockout could be over sooner than you think."

"After lengthy discussions with both sources, they both conveyed to me a great deal of hope that a deal would be done by July and possibly as early as late June," Zierlein wrote. "Why the sudden optimism? According to one of the sources, 'both sides are focusing on the percentage of total revenue coming in (would include the first $1 billion the owners are currently taking off the top) and if that deal gets done, the other issues will probably fall into place fairly quickly according to what I'm hearing.'"

Another source told Zierlein that "I am 100 times more hopeful than two weeks ago that a deal can get done relatively quickly."

Pro Football Weekly's Eric Edholm also hears things, all positive: "Sources have indicated to PFW that June 21, which is when the NFL owners are scheduled to meet in Chicago, might be a date to circle on the calendar. The reason for the escalated talks might indicate that the owners want to have a deal — or parameters of a deal — to vote on when they all assemble for the meeting."

That makes five different sources reporting a variation on the "things are looking really good" theme. Nothing's concrete but as we stated last night: it's a start, we'll take it.

And as momentum builds toward a resolution, this becomes less about taking sides and more about finding common ground and getting a deal done. It may have taken three months to arrive at this point, but as Breer noted Friday, it's not yet the 11th hour. If a new CBA is reached, even in principle, there could be time for free agency and training camps, and the 2011 NFL season would start as scheduled.

Sure, this fight has been framed as a battle between billionaires and millionaires. That's not entirely true, but given the economic climate, fans have little sympathy for either side. (Also not helping: the occasional attempts at public relations obfuscation.) They just want football. And it finally looks like that will happen, perhaps a lot sooner than anyone ever expected. To quote Austin Powers: "Yay, capitalism!"

http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbsspor...75988/29961289

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