NFL, NFLPA Make Overtures Toward Mediation To Resolve Lockout

The class counsel for the players in the Tom Brady v NFL case have written a letter to U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson, saying they are willing to engage in court-supervised mediation to resolve the lawsuit against the league immediately. Meanwhile, the league has sent a letter today to the decertified NFLPA, asking that the players engage in collective bargaining mediations under the auspices of Federal Mediator George Cohen, according to sources and media reports.

Any mediations between the players and the league could potentially result in a settlement to settle the labor dispute between the two sides. The NFLPA decertified as a union on March 11 and the NFL locked players out on March 12.

In the letter to Nelson, the counsel for the Brady plaintiffs wrote, "We are writing in response to the Court's suggestion that the parties engage the services of the federal court in Minnesota in an effort to mediate and settle the current litigation. We take your comments regarding protecting the parties positions to heart. As class counsel on behalf of the Brady class, we think this is an excellent suggestion and are prepared to engage in such mediation without delay."

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