NFL-NFLPA* Mediation Update

Thursday marked the beginning of ordered mediation between the NFL and the NFLPA*. Earlier this week, reports came out that U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson would order both sides to negotiation under the mediation of Judge Arthur Boylan after the two sides both stated they wanted to continue negotiation but could not agree on a mediator.

According to Sean Leahy of USA Today, both NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith are attending the mediation session in Minneapolis. In attendance for the league owners are Clark Hunt of the Chiefs, Robert Kraft of the Patriots, Jerry Richardson of the Panthers, and Art Rooney of the Steelers according to NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello.

If you think that is a bad turnout for the league owners, it doesn’t get much better as far as the players. Out of the ten named plaintiffs, only two are present for mediation. Those include Vikings linebacker Ben Leber and Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel.

As ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio points out, it doesn’t matter how few are in attendance from each side, as long as those present have the power to negotiate an agreement. The four owners and two plaintiffs for the NFLPA* must have the ability to reach an agreement, otherwise it would be in violation of Judge Nelson’s order that somebody from each side with “full authority” be present.

As long as each side shows some effort in their negotiations and make the other side believe they are trying to work towards a new deal, neither side should argue over this issue, especially when neither side has close to half of their side available at the mediation session.

Home/NFL Draft