Optimism remained in the air yesterday as the NFL’s warring owners and players wrapped up another round of closed-door talks on a potential settlement that would end the lockout.
The second day of meetings, held at an undisclosed location reportedly in Long Island, ended promisingly with the sides issuing a joint statement and league sources saying the talks would resume in the very near future — perhaps next week.
Conventional wisdom within the league continues to be that a new collective bargaining agreement would need to be reached by mid-July at the latest for training camps to start on time.
Giants co-owner John Mara, one of the league’s key negotiators throughout the dispute, took part once again. He was joined by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and owners Robert Kraft (Patriots), Jerry Richardson (Panthers), Dean Spanos (Chargers) and Clark Hunt (Chiefs).
The players’ contingent included union chief DeMaurice Smith and Jets fullback Tony Richardson.
Noticeably absent from the talks — and a big factor in the rising optimism — were hardline Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and attorneys representing both sides in the contentious antitrust lawsuit brought by the players.
“NFL owners and players have engaged in further confidential discussions before [a federal magistrate],” the joint statement said. “Those discussions will continue.”
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The NFL Players Association has moved its two-day educational program for rookies from Washington to Bradenton, Fla. The seminar will take place June 28-29 at the IMG Academies.
All 254 drafted rookies are invited.