Patriots Owner Robert Kraft on Thursday said that the NFL and the NFLPA are "further along than they had been when the lockout started in March" in negotiations for a new CBA, according to Karen Guregian of the BOSTON HERALD. With the “latest set of not-so-secret labor negotiations free of lawyers” taking place this week in N.Y., Kraft “sounded a little bit more optimistic about a deal being struck in the not-so-distant future.” Kraft: “I think we’ve been fortunate that we’ve had two rounds of talks, and any time principals are talking in any deal that’s complicated or has potential problems, I think that’s a big plus. I’m happy that we’re talking, principal to principal.” However, Kraft noted while the two sides are “making progress,” there is “a lot of work to be done.” Kraft: “I think we’re getting close to having to put this thing to bed, so we don’t miss any events. I know that’s the intent on both sides, but it would be misleading to say anything that would not make it crystal clear there is a lot of hard work still to be done. But the good news is we’re talking. I think we went 34 days without having communications, and the lawyers on each side were doing stuff. That, to me, isn’t progress” (BOSTON HERALD, 6/10). More Kraft: “We’ve had the head of the union and five players and a mix of different owners and the commissioner all focused on the issues and what’s good for the game and trying to solve that” (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/10).
A JOVIAL DINNER: In N.Y., Bart Hubbuch cites sources as saying that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith “met for a private dinner lasting nearly two hours late Wednesday night” at Patroon restaurant in N.Y in “another very helpful sign for the NFL’s labor dispute.” A source said it was a “very jovial dinner” between Goodell and Smith. The “secret and highly unusual sitdown at Patroon came just hours after the two leaders were involved in another round of closed-door talks between negotiating parties from both sides on Long Island.” The combination of the talks with the dinner is “prompting optimism that the league’s three-month labor dispute could soon end” (N.Y. POST, 6/10).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes it looks like a new CBA “could get done by early-to-mid July.” There have been “five negotiating sessions over the last two weeks, with more talks to come next week.” A source described recent events as “a lot of good news.” The source: “Right people, right format, right time.” Myers writes, “Basically, the players and owners realize now is the time. If they wait for court rulings and for one side to get real leverage, it’s going to be harder to get out of the courts and back onto the field” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/10). In Houston, Lance Zierlein noted he spoke with sources on both sides, and 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.” One source said, “Both sides are focusing on the percentage of total revenue coming in, and if that deal gets done, the other issues will probably fall into place fairly quickly according to what I’m hearing” (CHRON.com, 6/9). However, NBC "SNF" analyst Cris Collinsworth “still believes it’s most likely that at least some games will be scrubbed.” Collinsworth: “In my heart of hearts, I think (the NFL) is going to miss some games.” He added, “My history of negotiating with the owners in general has been that they want you to prove you’re willing to walk away from a paycheck. … The owners tend to hold their best offer until there’s a deadline of some kind” (L.A. TIMES, 6/10).
TAKING TO TWITTER: ESPN CHICAGO’s Michael Wright notes Bears S Chris Harris “took to social media Thursday in joining teammate and union rep Robbie Gould in voicing critical remarks regarding the NFL labor situation.” Harris, “addressing remarks made on conference calls with fans” by Goodell, on Twitter noted, “(Goodell’s) argument is if they get what they want n CBA, tix prices will lower. That’s not true bc demand is still there. In any business if demand is high, prices rise.” More Harris: “So Roger Goodell said the lockout is for fans as well. U have to be either stupid or naïve to believe tix prices r going down after new CBA. … Roger Goodell tix prices will not go down if anything they will go up” (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 6/10).
QUICK TURNAROUND: In Ft. Lauderdale, Omar Kelly noted Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland “expects the beginning of the 2011 season to be a ‘watered down’ version of the NFL” due to the “quick turnaround most NFL insiders expect teams will be forced to make once a new CBA deal gets done.” Ireland: “You always worry about it, and you don’t know until you get a hold of your players and really get going, (seeing) how fast we can get going, and how fast we can get the installation and everything (else) involved. I think it could be a little watered down at some point early on, but I think it could get going early fast” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 6/9).
