The positive signs continue to emerge regarding the ongoing labor talks, which took on a new dynamic last week via negotiations occurring without the lawyers involved.
According to Will Burge of WKNR in Cleveland, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said Friday that “progress is being made, slowly but surely.”
That’s good news, assuming that the progress continues. At some point, things need to speed up, considerably.
Hopefully, that point is coming.
We’ve separately heard the NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith has been updating players from specific teams regarding the status of the discussions. The obvious challenge in this regard comes from adhering to the court-mandated confidentiality while also giving the players useful information.
It’s too early to assume a deal is coming (notwithstanding a stray report that the lockout is “over,” which quickly was massaged without comment to “almost over”), but for the first time since the lockout began it’s becoming more and more clear that the parties are motivated to set aside the acrimony and focus on finding a win-win solution. Both sides deserve plenty of credit for putting the interests of the game and the fans above short-term strategies aimed at finagling a “win” at the bargaining table, or in court.