NFL, players meet with mediator, but no progress made

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

The NFL and its locked-out players launched a second round of mediation Thursday, this time under a court order to try and figure out a solution to their labor dispute.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft were among those on hand for the closed-door session at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith was joined by attorneys, linebackers Ben Leber and Mike Vrabel, as well as Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller. Smith greeted reporters as he approached the building, but he didn’t respond to questions. Asked about his hope for the session as he hustled to the entrance, Vrabel smiled and joked that he just hoped he wasn’t late.

It was the first time the two sides have sat down to talk since March 11, when the old collective bargaining agreement expired, the union was dissolved to clear the way for a court fight and the NFL wound up with its first work stoppage since the monthlong strike in 1987.

With the lockout at 33 days and counting and the 2011 season in peril, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan is overseeing this round of mediation. Sixteen days of mediated sessions in Washington failed to secure a new labor pact.

Eller said he was hopeful of progress.

“I’m a fan, too. We would like to ease their minds,” Eller said.

Goodell stepped away from the session to join a teleconference with 5,300 Cleveland Browns season-ticket holders for 20 minutes. He would not characterize the negotiations, which are supposed to remain confidential, but did reiterate the importance of the sides getting together.

“I can tell you that it’s a positive step when the parties are talking,” he said.