League Notes

Roger Goodell Says CBA Discussions With NFLPA Are Ongoing

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday said CBA discussions with the NFLPA are "ongoing." Goodell: "The two negotiating teams -- the owners' negotiating team and the players' negotiating team led by (NFLPA Exec Dir) DeMaurice Smith -- are meeting and the issues have been put on the table. There's a very professional dialogue and an open dialogue. There's some give and take, and I think that's all positive. So hopefully, those discussions will continue in a productive way." Asked about a potential deadline for a deal, Goodell said, "I'm not sure we've tried to determine when a deadline is. I think we both feel some sense of urgency. We both believe that the earlier an agreement can be reached is good for the players and the owners and the game, and the better off we all are. … But I'm not in for creating artificial deadlines and I think that's all we'd be doing if we did that right now" ("Thursday Night Kickoff," NFL Network, 11/19).

HELP THE HEALING: SI.com’s Jim Kelley writes former NHLer Brendan Shanahan, who could take an expanded off-ice role with the league, could be the "person who unites the fractured NHLPA." Even if he does not lead the union, he could be a "behind-the-scenes force that helps direct the eventual executive director." NHL Rangers G and player rep Stephen Valiquette this week, following Shanahan's retirement, said, "Maybe he can help us out with our NHLPA situation. Maybe he will be our new executive director." Kelley notes Shanahan "commands that kind of respect," as he "has never shied away from challenges" (SI.com, 11/19).

CUTTING BACK: In London, Edward Gorman reports F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone Thursday was "warning that he is ready to remove the British Grand Prix from next year's calendar." Ecclestone spoke about the "failure of the owners of the Silverstone circuit," where the race is held, "to sign a document that could guarantee" the race for 17 years. Ecclestone said that he has been "in regular contact with the circuit and believes that Silverstone's owners are trying to source additional funding to help them to settle the deal." But he believes that he "will have to remove next year's race from the calendar" at the December 11 meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council. Ecclestone: "The World Council will meet and we will just pull it off -- we will have to. We'll have no other choice, if we don't have a contract." Ecclestone said that the race "would be scrapped initially for only one year and no other grand prix would be scheduled in place of it next season" (LONDON TIMES, 11/20).

SETBACKS FOR UFC: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote MMA fighter Brock Lesnar's illness is "just the latest bit of unfortunate news" for UFC. After a "record-setting summer highlighted by a reported 1.6 million pay per view buys for UFC 100 on July 11, which Lesnar headlined, there's been a rash of injuries, illnesses and bad luck," as Lesnar is "just one of three champions who have been forced to sit out for an extended period." UFC President Dana White: "This sounds crass but when you're dealing with humans as your product, crap happens" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/18).