NFL Lockout Watch, Day 35: League, Players Meet For Around Nine Hours

The NFL and its locked-out players "started talking again" Thursday, though the "only sign of progress or productivity ... was the nine hours or so both sides spent in the federal courthouse," according to Dave Campbell of the AP. Sworn to secrecy about specifics of the court-ordered mediation, "neither the league nor the players provided much insight about where they're at in their dispute." They are scheduled to meet again Friday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt, Steelers President Art Rooney II and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "were among those on hand for the closed-door session with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan." NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith was "joined by attorneys" and Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel and free agent LB Ben Leber, two named plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed against the league. Attorney Michael Hausfeld, who is representing players, said the court "has indicated it wants to continue with everyone talking as long as it makes sense." Goodell "would not characterize the negotiations, which are supposed to remain confidential, but did reiterate the importance of the sides getting together." Goodell: "I can tell you that it's a positive step when the parties are talking." Goodell did say that the NFL "hopes to release its schedule for next season within the next 10 days." He also reiterated that there are "no plans to use replacement players as the league did in 1987 and that the Super Bowl in Indianapolis could be pushed back one week or the two-week gap after the conference championships could be shortened to one if necessary" (AP, 4/14). Patriots OT and player rep Matt Light, who is not attending the mediation, said of NFL owners, "It will be apparent pretty early if they're serious about tackling the issues and getting down to business. The real key to it all is when they're ready to stop exhausting all these other measures and start talking about a real deal, it will happen pretty quickly" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/15).

POWER BROKER: In N.Y., Judy Battista writes U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson's "real power" to get the two sides moving "will not be felt until she issues her ruling on the players' request for an injunction to stop the lockout." Nelson "could order the sides to continue mediation after she rules on the injunction, setting up the possibility that mediated talks could go on while the sides remain engaged in a court battle." There also is the "chance that the talks could lay the foundation for a deal if the mediator can find common ground between the two sides on what their future relationship will be" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/15).

PREVENT OFFENSE: SI.com's Frank Deford wrote, "Most of you have heard of the prevent defense. Effectively, what the owners are doing is running a prevent offense. Time is on their side." The owners "know that as the season approaches, the fans will merely become impatient, and the players will lose what sympathy they originally had." Deford: "As long as the owners, abetted by the players, can keep the dispute tied up in court so that it's not players vs. owners but lawyers vs. lawyers, the original issues will be obfuscated. And forget what is right or wrong or fair or unfair, the public simply will demand compromise for compromise sake. The owners' prevent offense will win the day" (SI.com, 4/14). Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp said he believed the NFL labor dispute will not end soon because "anytime there's a war between the guys with the most money, always go with the guy making the most jack." Sharp: "He can wait it out a little bit longer. I have a feeling once this goes into summer, then you're going to see a lot of the players saying, 'Where are those paychecks?'" ("Jim Rome Is Burning," ESPN, 4/14).

MAN OF THE PEOPLE: In N.Y., Paul Schwartz notes Goodell is "engaging in conference calls with season-ticket holders for various teams, no doubt trying to ease the fears and anger about the lockout with some good public relations." He "held a call with Dolphins season-ticket holders on Wednesday," spoke Thursday with Browns fans and "will get on a conference call on April 20 with Giants season ticket holders" (N.Y. POST, 4/15).