As if it wasn’t already clear from the comments of Steelers owner Art Rooney, II, there’s more evidence that this week’s mediation session between the players and the owners won’t do any good.
Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan has scheduled just two days of mediation between the players and the league: They’ll start today and wrap up tomorrow. So it’s not like this is going to be a lengthy session where they could hammer out the details of any significant deals.
And Breer also reports that no active players have been seen on the premises. Mike Vrabel was supposed to be there until his flight got canceled, and with Vrabel unable to make it, apparently no players will be there.
So the mediation will consist of a whopping two days of talks, with no players around for the first day. Don’t expect much progress.
UPDATE: Apparently, Vikings linebacker Ben Leber is attending the session today. Either way, don’t expect any real progress. Besides, any progress likely will be undone once the Eighth Circuit rules on the pending appeal and one side wins, and the other side loses.