NFLPA attorney JEFFREY KESSLER became a "lightning rod for controversy during heated negotiations" with owners for a new NFL CBA, according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. In his first public remarks since the league and players approved a new 10-year agreement, Kessler said that he is "satisfied that the players got a good deal and now stand to benefit from an economic windfall the league expects in the coming years." Kessler: "I'm very satisfied with the results. The players had certain objectives, and we were able to check off each one of those objectives. It didn't mean the players didn't have to compromise, but that's the only way you get a deal." During the more than four-month-long lockout, Kessler was "aware of the biting criticism directed his way ... but opted not to respond while the negotiations were ongoing." He said, "I can tell you that many of these things that were reported as fact were fiction, and I'll let it go at that." Kessler believes that the "key to achieving a successful result for the players was their willingness to remain unified." Glauber noted the NFL talks "seemed to take a significant turn when Kessler and other attorneys from both sides were asked to leave the talks for a period of time." He said, "Lawyers can only do what their principals decide. If you don't have trust between the principals, it's very hard to make progress. Getting them together to restore their trust and getting a renewed sense of common purpose was a turning point." Now, Kessler is representing the NBPA during a lockout that "could be even more problematic" for him and his constituents. He said, "The disputes are not exactly the same, but I think they can both learn from things that happened in football that probably guide their thinking in basketball" (NEWSDAY.com, 8/11).
