NFL Lockout Watch, Day 95: Sides Meeting This Week Outside DC

The negotiating teams for the NFL and NFLPA gathered today "at an undisclosed location" in the DC area in an effort to reach a new CBA, according to sources cited by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. Sources said that the owners and players are "in a 'deal-making mode' and hope to make significant progress over the next two or three days." It is the third consecutive week the two sides have met. In addition, a league source said that the NFL "sent a memo to its teams on Monday night, advising officials to be prepared to stay overnight during next Tuesday's league meetings in Chicago" (ESPN.com, 6/14). ESPN's Adam Schefter, reporting on Twitter, wrote the memo indicates the league “knows it's entering critical stretch and there's plenty to discuss.” Also, some GMs “believe a new CBA will be voted on” during next week’s meetings. Schefter: “Doesn't mean it gets approval, but teams could vote on CBA next week.” Meanwhile, the Washington Post’s Mark Maske reported, “Owners have been told to keep their schedules open next week in case scheduled owners' meeting next Tuesday in Chicago spills over into Wed. … It's a sign of progress in the talks but it apparently remains unlikely there will be a deal by next week” (TWITTER.com, 6/14). PRO FOOTBALL TALK’s Mike Florio notes the NFL’s memo is a sign that teams “will be voting on the terms” of a new CBA. Even if a deal “remains days or weeks away as of next Tuesday, the owners could choose to pre-approve the final terms to be offered by the negotiating team, eliminating the need for a vote once an agreement in principle is reached” with the NFLPA. Florio writes while it is “neither good news nor bad news at this point, it lays the foundation for potentially great news” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 6/14).