NFL, union negotiators in D.C. for mediation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The NFL and the players' union sat down today for a last-ditch effort to avoid a work stoppage in America's most-popular sport.

With the clock ticking down to the midnight expiration of the league's collective-bargaining agreement, Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL's negotiating team arrived at a federal mediator's headquarters about 45 minutes ahead of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and his group.

Staring at the first pro football work stoppage since 1987, Goodell said "We're working hard."

Also on hand for the NFL were lead negotiator Jeff Pash, outside counsel Bob Batterman, New York Giants owner John Mara, Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and several other league executives.

Mara and Murphy are members of the league's labor committee, which has the authority to call for a lockout if a new agreement isn't reached by midnight.

"We'll stay at it as long as it takes," Pash said before the 10th mediation session at the offices of George Cohen.