This week's unannounced NFL-NFLPA meetings in Chicago "did not produce much concrete progress, but the mere fact that prominent members of both sides were talking face-to-face again was a 'hopeful' sign" they can reach a new CBA, according to sources cited by Bart Hubbuch of the N.Y. POST. Adding to that "hint of optimism was the subsequent late-afternoon announcement" Thursday by the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis that two days of court-ordered mediation next week "were being cancelled so that the owners and players could continue the settlement talks that began on the sly earlier this week." Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, one of a handful of NFL representatives at this week's talks, said, "We can't make a comment about it at all, but we're trying. We're trying. I think the fact that we're meeting is good." Hubbuch notes despite the bit of optimism resulting from the talks, supervised by Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, both sides "remained full speed ahead" on Friday's hearing in St. Louis before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals "on the legality of the injunction that lifted the lockout ever so briefly last month" (N.Y. POST, 6/3). A high-ranking NFLPA member on Thursday estimated that a "new deal could be reached within two to three weeks." He said, "This is the most optimistic I've been in many months." But, like other sources, the NFLPA member "urged extreme caution, saying talks could easily break down, and weeks from now we could be back at the beginning, with the name-calling and the ticking clock" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/2). National Football Post President and ESPN analyst Andrew Brandt said, "The fact that the meetings occurred right before the hearing is a good thing. Perhaps it's a case of both sides saying, 'Let's handle our own business rather than letting the court decide'" (USA TODAY, 6/3).
LOOK WHO'S TALKING: In N.Y., Judy Battista reports the NFL and NFLPA are "prepared to continue talking, probably at an undisclosed location next week," after Boylan canceled the previously scheduled mediation in Minneapolis. Boylan will "almost certainly be present, although he may not be actively running the negotiations toward a settlement." The NFL initiated this week's negotiations "by placing the first phone call" to NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith. Sources briefed on the meetings "urged caution and said a completed deal was, at best, several weeks away even if negotiations went smoothly." The NFL's goal is to "have a deal done by late June or early July, because that would allow several weeks of free agency before training camps open at the end of July and the preseason begins" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/3). In DC, Mark Maske notes it is "not clear if any formal bargaining took place in Chicago during the meetings." But it "did appear that the two sides were attempting to establish a rapport and find common ground for further negotiations" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/3). NFL Network's Albert Breer said the meetings contained "more face-to-face negotiations, and that is what everybody has said for the longest time is what it's going to take to come to an agreement" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 6/2). CBSSPORTS.com's Clark Judge writes, "I don't know what drove the two sides back together, but I have a pretty good idea -- and it's leverage the NFL gained through last month's permanent stay. I mean, let's be honest: For the moment, the NFL holds the upper hand, and it knows it. But the players know it too, which is why they may be more flexible now than before" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/3).
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT: In Boston, Greg Bedard writes this week's talks are an "admission by both sides that some sort of time frame has to be put in place to get a deal done, or they’re going to head into the abyss of games being missed, and then it would be extremely difficult to reach an agreement that is fair to all." It is "important to note that a settlement is now the apparent course of resolution, not the players dropping their antitrust lawsuit." Bedard notes that "would be a concession on the part of the owners, who had said they had 'no interest' in settlement discussions." The NFLPA is "giving things back as well, including recertification when a deal is reached" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/3). Free agent LB Ben Leber, one of 10 plaintiffs on the antitrust lawsuit, said that the players "haven’t discussed a specific drop-dead date for reaching an agreement to ensure the on-time start of training camps." But he stressed that it is "necessary to have a date to reach a deal." Leber: "Both sides have a day, whether they want to make it public or not. The biggest challenge is going to lie with whose day is going to come up first. Once it got to this point, I think it was just a good guess based on most corporate labor disputes that nothing was going to get done until the 11th hour. Now it depends on which 11th hour gets here first" (AP, 6/2). An NFL player agent said on Thursday, "I think it's time to settle the case. To me, I've always felt this thing had to get settled between July 4 and July 10 if you don't want to lose the season. That would give them two weeks of free agency, a week of OTAs, maybe with free agency at the same time, and leave the training camp date intact" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/3).
HANGING IN THE BALANCE: In Cincinnati, Joe Reedy reports the Bengals' deadline with Georgetown College, where they have held training camp since '97, "is July 15." Had there "not been a lockout, the Bengals would have reported July 28 and broken camp Aug. 17 or 18." Classes begin at Georgetown on Aug. 29, and if "camp is moved, it will be held on the practice fields at Paul Brown Stadium" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/3).
JUST KILLING TIME: Redskins TE Chris Cooley appeared on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” Thursday night where he molded clay on a spinning wheel. NFL Network’s Rich Eisen: “I don’t know if you’re aware -- anyone at home as well -- can you tell we’re in a lockout? We’re watching Chris Cooley make a bowl out of clay. This is what’s happening” ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 6/2).
