By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Pro Football Writer
WASHINGTON – The federal mediator overseeing the NFL's labor talks with the players' union says "some progress was made, but very strong differences remain."
Mediator George Cohen says in a statement Thursday that both sides agreed to resume mediation next week.
Thursday marks the seventh consecutive day of mediated negotiations between the league and the union. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in a week.
Cohen says talks will pick up again at his office Tuesday.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The NFL and the players' union resumed talks with a federal mediator for the seventh day in a row Thursday, with only a week left until the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, union head DeMaurice Smith and their negotiating teams arrived at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service by 9:30 a.m. They have spent more than 40 hours there since last Friday.
"Any time you're talking, it's always good," said Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, one of four active players present Thursday. "We're continuing to talk, so we'll see how it goes."
Thursday's session concludes the current round of mediation; the sides will not meet in Washington on Friday, although the process could resume next week. When NFL outside counsel Bob Batterman was asked about both sides' leaving town Thursday, he noted: "But continuing to talk."
The current labor deal runs out at the end of the day next Thursday. The NFL Players Association has said it believes owners have been preparing to lock out players if no new CBA is agreed to by then.
Mediator George Cohen told the league and union not to discuss the bargaining publicly, and both sides have honored that, which is why it is hard to decipher what sort of progress — if any — has been made over the last week.
"We don't take any risks," NFLPA lawyer Richard Berthelsen said Thursday. "We're in the cone of silence."
Entering Cohen's office before 9 a.m., Goodell said: "I hate to tell you this, but 'No comment.'"
Smith walked in at 9:30 a.m. His group included four members of the NFLPA's executive committee: Saturday; Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins; and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel and guard Brian Waters. Nine of that committee's 11 members have participated at some point during these seven days of talks; union president Kevin Mawae and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees have not.
Thursday shaped up as potentially a key day, and not only because it capped the face-to-face meetings overseen by Cohen.
There also was a hearing scheduled before a U.S. District Court judge in Minneapolis to discuss the NFLPA's complaint that the league improperly negotiated TV deals.
The union has accused the NFL of structuring contracts so owners would be guaranteed money from networks even if there were a lockout in 2011 — while not getting the most revenue possible in other seasons, when income would need to be shared with players.
After months of infrequent and sometimes contentious talks, the sides have been communicating regularly in Washington after agreeing to have Cohen play a role. The league and union went more than two months without any formal bargaining until Feb. 5, the day before the Super Bowl. The sides met again once the next week, then called off a second meeting that had been scheduled for the following day.
The most recent CBA was signed in 2006, but owners exercised an opt-out clause in 2008.
The biggest issue separating the sides is how to divide about $9 billion in annual revenues. Among the other significant points in negotiations: a rookie wage scale; the owners' push to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games; and benefits for retired players.
The voluntary mediation is seen as an attempt to spur progress.
"Unfortunately, there's not much information we can provide," former NFL player Jim McFarland, who is part of the union's negotiating team, said Thursday morning. "Hopefully, this will all work out."
Source: Mediator says NFL, union make `some progress' - Yahoo! News
Why NFL players need a union is beyond me.
WASHINGTON – The federal mediator overseeing the NFL's labor talks with the players' union says "some progress was made, but very strong differences remain."
Mediator George Cohen says in a statement Thursday that both sides agreed to resume mediation next week.
Thursday marks the seventh consecutive day of mediated negotiations between the league and the union. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in a week.
Cohen says talks will pick up again at his office Tuesday.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The NFL and the players' union resumed talks with a federal mediator for the seventh day in a row Thursday, with only a week left until the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, union head DeMaurice Smith and their negotiating teams arrived at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service by 9:30 a.m. They have spent more than 40 hours there since last Friday.
"Any time you're talking, it's always good," said Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, one of four active players present Thursday. "We're continuing to talk, so we'll see how it goes."
Thursday's session concludes the current round of mediation; the sides will not meet in Washington on Friday, although the process could resume next week. When NFL outside counsel Bob Batterman was asked about both sides' leaving town Thursday, he noted: "But continuing to talk."
The current labor deal runs out at the end of the day next Thursday. The NFL Players Association has said it believes owners have been preparing to lock out players if no new CBA is agreed to by then.
Mediator George Cohen told the league and union not to discuss the bargaining publicly, and both sides have honored that, which is why it is hard to decipher what sort of progress — if any — has been made over the last week.
"We don't take any risks," NFLPA lawyer Richard Berthelsen said Thursday. "We're in the cone of silence."
Entering Cohen's office before 9 a.m., Goodell said: "I hate to tell you this, but 'No comment.'"
Smith walked in at 9:30 a.m. His group included four members of the NFLPA's executive committee: Saturday; Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins; and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel and guard Brian Waters. Nine of that committee's 11 members have participated at some point during these seven days of talks; union president Kevin Mawae and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees have not.
Thursday shaped up as potentially a key day, and not only because it capped the face-to-face meetings overseen by Cohen.
There also was a hearing scheduled before a U.S. District Court judge in Minneapolis to discuss the NFLPA's complaint that the league improperly negotiated TV deals.
The union has accused the NFL of structuring contracts so owners would be guaranteed money from networks even if there were a lockout in 2011 — while not getting the most revenue possible in other seasons, when income would need to be shared with players.
After months of infrequent and sometimes contentious talks, the sides have been communicating regularly in Washington after agreeing to have Cohen play a role. The league and union went more than two months without any formal bargaining until Feb. 5, the day before the Super Bowl. The sides met again once the next week, then called off a second meeting that had been scheduled for the following day.
The most recent CBA was signed in 2006, but owners exercised an opt-out clause in 2008.
The biggest issue separating the sides is how to divide about $9 billion in annual revenues. Among the other significant points in negotiations: a rookie wage scale; the owners' push to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games; and benefits for retired players.
The voluntary mediation is seen as an attempt to spur progress.
"Unfortunately, there's not much information we can provide," former NFL player Jim McFarland, who is part of the union's negotiating team, said Thursday morning. "Hopefully, this will all work out."
Source: Mediator says NFL, union make `some progress' - Yahoo! News
Why NFL players need a union is beyond me.