NFL and Players to Suspend CBA Talks for a Month

Suspension of talks between the National Football League (NFL) and its players on a new labor accord have been put in place for almost a month while they await a federal judge’s ruling on a request to end the lockout.

Players’ and owners’ representatives met four times over the past two weeks in Minneapolis with the mediator, apoplectic Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

James Quinn, outside counsel for the players, said as he left yesterday’s, April 20, meeting: “We’re going to be back here on May 16 to continue the mediation. Everybody believes that it was helpful.”

Executive vice president and general counsel for the league, Jeff Pash, said Boylan’s contributions are moving the sides toward a conclusion, stating on NFL.com: “This was a valuable process. I don’t think a single minute of it was wasted time. We’ll be back here ready to make a deal; that’s the only way we’re going to solve this problem.”

Before the players and owners meet again, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson is expected to rule on the players’ lawsuit to end the lockout after quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees led a group of 10 NFL players who sued the league on March 11 after negotiations on a new labor contract ended without agreement.

The players moved to decertify their union and owners declared a lockout. Players claim the league’s policies violate U.S. antitrust laws.