NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today said that the league still does not have a date in which the status of the Hall of Fame game and other preseason games would be in jeopardy, but said, “Obviously that time is coming.” Goodell, speaking at the conclusion of the owners meetings in Indianapolis, noted the cancelation of the league’s rookie symposium and said, “We’re getting close enough now where those will have to be considerations.” The lockout currently is in its 75th day.
Goodell was asked whether the owners, despite recent court victories, are more willing to compromise and seek "middle ground" with the players. He said, "Absolutely. We've said it before, this is going to be resolved through negotiations and the ownership knows that and the ownership believes that. It's imperative on all of us to get back to negotiating.”
The commissioner acknowledged that the lockout has impacted teams’ ticket sales. Goodell: “I don't think you can ever underestimate the fans are still going through difficult challenges, just in the general economy here, and those challenges continue to impact on their decisions and rightfully so. We have to keep that in mind, and I know the ownership has been reminded of that over the last couple days” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/25).
