After two days of meetings in the Chicago area, NFL and NFLPA* representaives are leaving the Chicago area Thursday afternoon. Apparently they were in Chicago in the first place at the urging of mediator Arthur Boylan.
Bob Glauber of Newsday has the details:
“A person familiar with the inner workings of the talks said that it was Boylan who called the parties together in a bid to continue dialogue. No breakthroughs were expected, however, and, as of yesterday, no new proposals were exchanged,” Glauber writes.
It’s a little disappointing the two sides didn’t get together on their own, but their willingness to sit face-to-face for a few days without lawyers is still a step in the right direction.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that the meetings held at the Hotel Baker have wrapped up, with DeMaurice Smith and a contingent of five players leaving a meeting with the NFL shortly after noon CT.