Roger Goodell Says Saturday's Talks With NFLPA Were "Beneficial"

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday's talks with the NFLPA, the first face-to-face labor session in more than two months, were "beneficial." Still, it "doesn't appear the two sides got any closer to an agreement." Goodell on Fox News yesterday said the fact that the two sides are talking is "a positive." NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said it was a "good meeting," but he added, "I don't think anyone went into the meeting with the idea that we were going to build Rome in one day" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/7).

The league and union in a joint statement said they "plan to increase the number, length and intensity" of bargaining sessions before the CBA expires on March 4. Two more sessions "already had been scheduled for next week" (N.Y. POST, 2/7). Sources said that there were five owners present: the Chiefs' Clark Hunt, Patriots' Robert Kraft, Giants' John Mara, Panthers' Jerry Richardson and Chargers' Dean Spanos. Sources also said that Colts QB Peyton Manning and Saints QB Drew Brees were on hand (ESPN.com, 2/6).