Judge orders NFL, players to talk again
The NFL and its locked-out players have been ordered to start talking again. The federal judge handling the lawsuit against the league told both sides yesterday they will participate in court-supervised mediation, saying she still is considering whether to grant the players' request to lift the lockout that's been in place for a month.
The NFL and its locked-out players have been ordered to start talking again.
The federal judge handling the lawsuit against the league told both sides yesterday they will participate in court-supervised mediation, saying she still is considering whether to grant the players' request to lift the lockout that's been in place for a month.
The players got their wish, with the talks held in the federal courts in Minnesota rather than the collective bargaining setting where the two sides unsuccessfully met last month.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said formal mediation will begin Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan at his office in the Minneapolis federal courthouse. Boylan will meet with representatives for the players today, then representatives of the NFL tomorrow.
The sides tried mediation before, negotiating for 16 days in Washington with Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director George Cohen. Those talks broke off on March 11, and the old collective bargaining agreement expired.
The NFL Players Association dissolved that day, saying it no longer would represent players in bargaining under labor law. That allowed players - including MVP quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning - to file a class-action antitrust suit against the league in federal court. The owners then locked out the players, creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.
Noteworthy
* Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton and Mark Ingram are among 20 college players the NFL Players Association says plan to participate in its events on the same 3 days as the NFL draft.
The "NFLPA Rookie Debut" from April 28-30 is slated to involve more than 20 current or former NFL players.
A dinner in New York on April 28 from 4-6 p.m., ends 2 hours before the draft begins.
In a related story, the NFL forwarded a letter from the NCAA to players invited to this month's draft that warns underclassmen about potential rules violations for attending draft parties.
The letter from NCAA director of player security services Dena Garner emphasized that players not eligible for this year's draft can't receive benefits or services such as travel, lodging, meals or entertainment if they attend such parties.
* The former New York Jets game hostess who allegedly received inappropriate photos and phone messages from Brett Favre says in an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that she isn't a "gold-digger" and hasn't "made a dime" off the scandal.
"I haven't made a dime off anything in this whole situation," Jenn Sterger said in the interview that will air on "Good Morning America" today and tomorrow and "Nightline" tonight.
In December, the NFL concluded its investigation of Favre by fining him $50,000 for failing to cooperate with the process. The NFL said commissioner Roger Goodell couldn't conclude Favre violated the league's personal-conduct policy based on the evidence available. Investigators were trying to determine if Favre sent inappropriate messages and below-the-belt photos to Sterger in 2008, when both worked for the Jets.
* Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller has pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated, but he will not have to serve time in jail.
Moeller was sentenced to 2 years of supervised probation by a Baltimore County district judge. Six other traffic offenses were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. A 60-day jail sentence was suspended with the exception of the 2 days Moeller served last fall.
The NFL could punish Moeller for violating its personal-conduct policy. No decision has been made yet.