NFL, NFLPA Are Amenable To Rolling Issues Into Global Settlement

The NFL and NFLPA reportedly are "amenable to rolling the remaining issues that are most problematic" -- the settlement of the Brady v NFL antitrust lawsuit and the TV "lockout insurance" damages case -- into a global settlement. The settlement would mean that "those two cases, along with the retired players' lawsuit and all other legal issues, would be dropped if the players ratify" a new CBA. If the remaining legal issues are not rolled into a global settlement, "it would be a very bad sign, potentially even stopping progress."

Meanwhile, sources said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will do "whatever is necessary" to reach a new CBA, including traveling to DC, where the NFLPA Exec Committee is scheduled to meet this week. The Exec Committee was originally slated to meet today, "but that meeting could be delayed until Tuesday" (ESPN.com, 7/18).