During this past week, U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson heard the antitrust case between the players and the NFL in a Minnesota court. Although she will need a couple weeks to make an official ruling, Nelson suggested that both parties resolve their differences out of court in the meantime.
With neither side budging thus far, she has taken it upon herself to get the talks going again.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Nelson will impose “forced mediation” between the NFL and NFLPA early this week.
While the sides are open to returning to mediation, each would like it done their way.
The league wants mediated talks to happen in Washington D.C., where previous labor negotiations took place before the union decertified, and a lockout went into effect. The players, along with federal mediator George Cohen, want mediation done in Minnesota under Nelson.
On Friday, the NFL, the players involved in the lawsuit, and Nelson held a conference call, with mediation, of course, as the topic of choice. The details were to remain private; both league spokesman Greg Aiello — who confirmed the call — and NFLPA lawyer Jeffrey Kessler declined to comment on the specifics.
Former head of the Players’ Association, DeMaurice Smith, was added to the players’ legal team as an attorney and is now free to participate in future mediation sessions.
Nelson, who reportedly sided a bit more with the players, will make a decision on a location based on “what she feels is best.” For what it’s worth, Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com was told the upcoming talks “might lead to a deal.”
We should have a clearer picture of where the lockout is headed — if anywhere — within the coming days.
