3. Days Of Mediated Talks On The NFL Work

WASHINGTON (AP)-Federally mediated negotiations toward a new labor agreement the NFL has about eight hours on Sunday, the third consecutive day in the league and its players union met to try to find common ground before the current contract expires.

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith did not stop for questions as he left the Washington office of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation, a U.S. government agency, shortly after 0600, he and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell arrived a few minutes of each other, short before 10:00

After months of bargaining the slow parts and sometimes controversial met for a total of more than 20 hours from Friday in front of George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation.

Because both parties agree that Cohen's request that they not comment publicly on those negotiations, it is unclear what if any progress has been made.

"You know we will not give you any information," the NFL's outside counsel Bob Batterman said when he left with three officials of the league. "I can not say anything other than the fact that we encounter."

Batterman, who represented the NHL when he lost his entire 2004-05 season to a lockout, referred to Cohen as a mediator of first class. "

try to work in the NFL will expire at the end of March 3rd. The union said it believes the team owners want to lock the players the next day, which could jeopardize the 2011 season.

On his way in interviews Sunday morning, said Jeff Pash, the NFL's general counsel and lead negotiator for the work: "We work hard and we are following the playbook of director, and we'll see what we find."

Attorney Jeffrey Kessler and Richard Berthelsen, current players Tony Richardson (notes) in the New York Jets and Charlie Batch (notes) in the Pittsburgh Steelers and former players Pete Kendall (notes) and Sean Morey (notes) were among those representing Association on Sunday. They began arriving before 09:00

"Debate is good," Richardson said when he left.

The sides met for about six hours on both Friday and Saturday. Cohen said Thursday the groups have agreed to mediation, which is not binding, but is intended as a means of encouraging development.

According to the plan several days of talks with Cohen to do. Arbitration can be considered as a positive indicator of a few months, rarely speaks, and often the rhetoric, including payments from both sides that the arrest of others called.

The league and union went more than two months without any formal bargaining until Feb. 5, the day before the Super Bowl. The sides met again the next week but called off a second meeting that had been scheduled for the following day.

The most recent CBA was signed in 2006, but owners exercised an opt-out clause in 2008.

The biggest issue separating the sides is how to divide nearly $ 9 billion in annual revenue. Among other important points in the negotiations: push owners to extend the 16-game regular season to 18, while the reduction of the preseason with two games, a wage scale and benefits for retired players rookies.

No team owner looked at mediation meetings, but they are certainly keeping with what is happening and at least one indicated optimism for 2011 season on a detour.