The NFLPA and the NFL released the following joint statement today, “The parties met pursuant to court mediation. Owners and players were engaged in confidential discussions before Chief Magistrate Judge Boylan. The court has ordered continued confidentiality of the mediation sessions.”
Judge Boylan also issued an order canceling mediation sessions scheduled for next week. He wrote “Whereas, the Court has been engaged in confidential settlement discussions involving the above captioned matter it deems it appropriate to cancel the mediation session previously scheduled in Minneapolis for June 7 and June 8.”
This news follows reports that the parties met Wednesday and Thursday in a suburb just outside of Chicago. That meeting is reported to have included commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan and several NFL owners and players.
The Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones, the New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft, the Carolina Panthers’ Jerry Richardson, the New York Giants’ John Mara and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Art Rooney were reported as the owners present in Chicago along with Goodell.
NFLPA representatives reported at the meeting, besides Smith, included Kevin Mawae, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Mike Vrabel, the Indianapolis Colts’ Jeff Saturday, the New York Jets’ Tony Richardson and the Baltimore Ravens’ Domonique Foxworth.
The players have been trying to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the league. Following a breakdown in mediation sessions in March and the pending expiration of the CBA, the NFLPA decertified and the owners instituted the lockout.
Chicago was a convenient meeting place as the players and the owners are scheduled to be in St. Louis tomorrow for oral arguments before a three judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals will decide on whether to lift the lockout or to keep the injunction of Judge Susan Nelson’s decision in place.
The antitrust litigation in Brady vs. NFL is still pending before Judge Nelson. The league’s legal answer in that litigation is scheduled to be filed with the District Court on June 6.
