While there remains a focused approach toward completing a labor deal between the NFL and its locked-out players in the near future, finalization of one Thursday is close to impossible, sources close to the negotiations told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.
It still is expected that negotiations will spill into early next week to achieve a "done deal," the sources said. Even with progress, there are unresolved issues that require further negotiations. Members of the NFL Players Association's executive board and owners resumed discussions Thursday at a law firm in Manhattan.
Mike and Mike in the Morning
ESPN NFL reporter Sal Paolantonio says the death of John Mackey is a reminder for the players of what they are fighting for. Paolantonio also talks about the current state of the lockout.
If the talks extend past Friday, the sides will be negotiating without U.S. District Judge Arthur Boylan, the mediator in the talks. Sources told ESPN that Boylan is scheduled to go on vacation Saturday.
In addition to the latest round of negotiations, the plaintiffs in the Tom Brady vs. NFL antitrust case have been contacted about participating in a conference call Thursday night, sources told Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, owners and players are involved in the talks Thursday to finalize the details of a new revenue split, which is getting closer to agreement. Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that both sides hope to achieve a true framework for a new collective bargaining agreement by the close of business on Friday.
Besides Goodell and Smith, others taking part in the talks Thursday include NFLPA president Kevin Mawae and team owners including Robert Kraft of the Patriots, John Mara of the New York Giants and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
Lawyers for both sides met the last two days to do paperwork toward a new collective bargaining agreement. On Wednesday, they negotiated details for free agency and training camps once the NFL is re-opened for business.
NFL Labor Negotiations and Lockout
The NFL lockout began on March 11, with no obvious end in sight. ESPN.com Topics keeps you up to date on all of the latest on the labor situation. More �
The players have so far rejected any deal that allows teams to have a right of first refusal on offers for up to three of their own free agents. Said one agent: "That punishes the top guys."
Also, teams would be allowed to bring in 80 to 90 players to training camp to allow for injuries and rust because of the lockout, which reached its 114th day Thursday.
Players and owners have been involved in six sets of negotiations around the country over the last several weeks, with pressure mounting to make a deal.
Training camps for the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears are scheduled to open July 22, with those teams scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame Game Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.
The rest of the training camps would open about a week later, with a full slate of preseason games set for the second weekend in August.
Information from ESPN national correspondent Sal Paolantonio, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6745234&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
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