NFL, Players Have Another Round Of 'Secret' Meetings
NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL owners and players met Wednesday for a second straight day in New York, with Judge Arthur Boylan joining Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith.
Also on hand were five team owners and five players.
"NFL owners and players continue to be engaged in confidential discussions before Chief Magistrate Judge Boylan," the two sides said in a joint statement. "Both sides met again this week as part of ongoing court mediation. Those discussions are expected to continue."
A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press the owners and players will meet again "soon and often. That means in the near future, not in a month or anything like that."
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were supposed to remain confidential.
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On hand at the latest talks were owners John Mara of the New York Giants, Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, Clark Hunt of the Kansas city Chiefs and Dean Spanos of the San Diego Chargers.
Representing the players were NFLPA President Kevin Mawae, Mike Vrabel, Tony Richardson, Domonique Foxworth and Jeff Saturday.
It was the second time in a week that the sides got together. Last week, they met near Chicago, then headed to the federal appeals court in St. Louis to argue the legality of the lockout, which began March 12 and remains in force.
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Goodell told Buccaneers ticket holders Wednesday that "any time we're talking that's a positive because I believe both sides want to find solutions."
"I believe it's the objective of everybody involved with the NFL to play a full 2011 season," Goodell said during the conference call. "That's certainly what we're working towards, and I think the players are working towards that, too. It's for the good of the game, it's for the good of the people involved in the game, and it's absolutely good for the fans."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
