“Some progress” made Tuesday in mediation

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At a time when pessimism had been growing regarding the court-ordered mediation in Minnesota, Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that “‘some progress‘” was made on Tuesday, after a “tough day of talks.”

But what does “some progress” mean?  Unless we know where the talks stood when the day began, it’s impossible to even begin to guess how much progress still needs to be made.

The good news is that they’re still talking.  The better news would be if all the owners (and all 10 named plaintiffs) show up, ready and willing and motivated to make a deal.

If that would happen, we think a deal would get done quickly.  And if they truly cared about the game and the fans, that would happen.

33 responses to ““Some progress” made Tuesday in mediation

  1. Mike, Please get off the 42 people in the room thing. When you have that many (not even counting the lawyers) involved in the discussion, no deceision will ever be made. The smaller the number involved, the better. Work a deal and then “sell” it to their respective constituants later.

  2. So they agreed on who sits where and 4 hours of break time for every 0.5 hour of negotiating. That is progress! Should be settled by 2016 at the latest.

  3. The only progress made is that one more day of “sham” negotiating is over, and we are one more day closer to when the courts rule in the owners favor. After that, then we will see serious, desperate negotiating from the side of the “association”

  4. You really want 40+ people to show up for negotiation? That would be a confusing mess. We need the opposite….trim it down to two negotiators per side.

    Then, they need to scrap the old “formuala” and simplify everything. Less is more.

    Notice that they didn’t make any progress until a couple of lawyers didn’t show up.

  5. Representatives for the League and the Union stated that the sides were able to reach agreement in a couple of areas.
    All parties agreed that Jerrah’s JumboTron is huge. Sides also agreed that it would probably be pretty cool to play Madden on the JumboTron from Jerrah’s private suite.

  6. “The better news would be if all the owners (and all 10 named plaintiffs) show up, ready and willing and motivated to make a deal.”

    *************************************

    I have to disagree.
    The ambulance chaser with the WalMart pimp hat needs to stay home, along with Brees, Manning, and Brady. None of them care about the past or future players.

    Bob Kraft, Clark Hunt, Bob McNair, and Bob Batterman from the owners/league side.
    Antonio Cromartie, Tony Richardson, Mike Vrabel and any other player they choose from the “association” side.

    Those are my choices to sit at the big boy table and hammer out a deal.
    I would also form a small advisory panel of respected former players to represent for retired players and be available to both sides with suggestions and ideas, although they should not be at the big table

    George Mart

  7. Totally agree with FinFan68. You need to get off this gigantic auditorium filled with lawyers, owners, palyers, plaintiffs, etc. It would never work and would be a huge mess. Much more it just isn’t realistic. You aren’t going to get all those poeple in the same room so let it go please. The people there need to be empowered and that’s all.

  8. ENOUGH already with the ” if all the owners (and all 10 named plaintiffs) show up, ready and willing and motivated to make a deal. If that would happen, we think a deal would get done quickly. And if they truly cared about the game and the fans, that would happen.” I mean seriously… I don’t think you have a post without making this statement (or something similar). Doing such a thing may alleviate morons like yourself who think that every deal ever done has to involve EVERYONE at EVERY point in the negotiation. That’s just simply not realistic (or efficient), and everyone showing up, I SERIOUSLY doubt would help the process at all (ever heard the phrase, too many cooks in the kitchen?). Frankly, it’s probably best some of the people are NOT there. Let the professionals (the attorneys, the key owners who probably speak for other owners, the commish, etc.) who are getting paid a lot to serve their client’s interest actually earn their keep! I HATE attorneys–but they are a necessary evil in this overly litigious society. I’m very sure they have clear instructions on what they’ll give, and what they won’t give–and likely check in daily (maybe more often) with the key guys to see if there’s any movement in their position. And I’m sure if the attorneys/advisers felt they needed clarification/information from one of the class participants, it wouldn’t be hard to track them down (heard of cell phones? video conferencing?). This relentless pounding that everyone needs to be there in order for this to be a sign that things are progressing just indicates you’ve never been involved in a big time deal. In fact, when/if they DO show up, it will signal that a deal is actually CLOSE. But wasting their time in the early stages of a negotiation (and let’s face it–they probably had to start over) is just a waste of everyone’s time and likely counterproductive–but doesn’t indicate anything about progress–just that a deal isn’t imminent. When/if they show up? THAT will be the signal that a deal is imminent. Until then, this is all just posturing. Sorry to be pessimistic, but I’d rather let the professionals handle this and then let the big gun’s arrival serve as a signal that things are about to get done! But I’m sure you’ll write that the deal got done BECAUSE they showed up. Instead of realizing they showed up BECAUSE a deal was close. Classic misunderstanding of cause and effect.

  9. Ole Mike is smart enough to know that the 40 people in the room thing is stupid – he’s just doing it for traffic purposes. My question is this – any chance there’s room for loving the game and still trying to do one’s best in the negotiation? C’mon, Mike, it’s a business dispute that you’re pissed about because it affects your new full-time business. That is what is coloring your typically reasonable outlook. As Loretta said in Moonstruck – “Snap out of it!”

  10. I thought Judge Nelson put a gag order on the negotiations. Where do you keep coming up with this crap? They need a convention with every player and every owner in attendance. Air It ALL out and then vote. Keep the lawyers locked in the back room.

  11. Time to send a message even if the players don’t boycott the draft the fans should I’m also cancelling my Sunday ticket. I’m sure if more people would do it Directv will get on the phone quick.

  12. bunch of old white dudes and their man “satchels” in that pic. how could things not be getting done with all the productive things they can fit in those satchels?

  13. The sad thing is, this should be done by now, I would say the 2 big things are the number of games 16 or 18, should be 16 and left alone, and how to split the money.

    A way to get this done, is have some players and their reps go in a room with the owners and Goodell, and don’t come out until a deal is done.

  14. “There will be no deal until Judge Nelson’s ruling.

    Period.”

    Actually, there will be no deal until well AFTER Judge Nelson’s ruling.

  15. all i hear is poor players that dont want to walk across and shake rogers hand…. well dont use ur college degree and get a real job like 96% of americans
    and get paid 25-35 dollars an hour if ur lucky to find a job

  16. Instead of paying the lawyers an hourly rate, try a flat fee. Half up front and the rest when they agree to a deal. See how fast the deal would get done.

  17. You want to put 42 personalities in a room plus ancillary staff and think that will hasten progress?

  18. I have a great idea. Since the NFL is more popular than ever, and since thier profits are sky rocketing despite the U.S.A. economic downturn: How about the *NFLPA just accept a new contract based exaclty on the old one. I think they need to make this concession for the sake of the fans.

    Wait a minute, they already have.

  19. @ ppath

    The owners opted out of the last CBA because it was unsustainable. They had the legal right to do so and they exercised that right. No employee should get 50% of every dollar earned (minus that 1 billion of course) The split should be 28/72.

  20. If Albert Breer knows something specific, do you think he reports it? Is it really worth jail time?

  21. pheagles says:
    Apr 20, 2011 1:29 AM
    Instead of paying the lawyers an hourly rate, try a flat fee. Half up front and the rest when they agree to a deal. See how fast the deal would get done.

    Outstanding point. The deal would be done in less than 24 hours.

  22. “Some Progress” as in from where they were under their previous negotiations or “some progress” from the s*** that ensued after?

  23. chapnastier says:
    Apr 20, 2011 8:01 AM
    @ ppath

    The owners opted out of the last CBA because it was unsustainable.
    ————————————————–

    Based on what evidence?

    Let’s be honest. Owners do not buy NFL teams to generate money. The fact they are able to buy the team shows they don’t need any extra income. They buy NFL teams because they love the sport and want to be involved. They want to meet the players, sit in the owner’s box and go to the Super Bowl.

    Put all 31 privately owned teams on the market. See how many people are willing to buy those franchises in an “unsustainable” system. I bet there would be a lot of suitors. The system isn’t unsustainable, they just want to make more money. And quite frankly, that is their right. But don’t sell me this unsustainable BS until they open the books and actually prove it.

  24. When Judge Doty rules that the players are entitled to half the owners lockout TV money ($ 4 Billion), the owners will lose their leverage. It doesn’t matter how the courts rule, the players will be able to sit out the whole season at full salary. At that point a fair deal will get done.

  25. How can any one side with the owners on this one?

    They take your tax dollars to fund stadiums and control that land, avoiding taking money out of their pockets.
    Then then lock out not only the players but the fans that use this entertainment to fight boredom. The same fans who’s devotion has brought them their riches.. scumbags.
    THIS IS A JOKE. .

    I wish i & the millions of other football fans out there weren’t so die hard.
    HOW FUNNY WOULD IT BE FOR THE FANS TO LOCKOUT THE OWNERS FOR A YEAR AND JUST NOT GO TO ANY GAMES not buy overpriced concessions, or $30 dollar parking or $125 jerseys.
    for an owner to state that this holdout is over money DISGUSTS ME COMPLETELY.

    that’s exactly what we should do.. but theres no chance in hell.

  26. “Based on what evidence?”

    For pete’s sake, just take a few minutes and check out the “books” for the Green Bay Packers over the last five years. Have you done so? No, you just parrot the moronic chant of the typical union drone.

  27. mick730 says:
    Apr 20, 2011 9:59 AM
    “Based on what evidence?”

    For pete’s sake, just take a few minutes and check out the “books” for the Green Bay Packers over the last five years. Have you done so? No, you just parrot the moronic chant of the typical union drone.
    ————————————————–

    If you notice I said the 31 privately owned franchises. I guess it would be moronic to read the entire post.

    The Packers are situated differently. And as far as I can tell, as long as the Packers aren’t losing money, what difference is there? The main concern is that they don’t leave Green Bay for a bigger market. I imagine Packer shareholders, for the most part, are more interested in keeping their team than making a huge profit.

  28. I’m with FinFan–what good would the 10 players who are named plaintiffs do? If having a bunch of players there was going to help at all, wouldn’t you want the player reps or something?

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