NFL owners, players continue secret talks

WASHINGTON — National Football League officials and players announced Wednesday that they have continued secret negotiation talks this week with a federal mediator and that such meetings will continue.In a joint statement, the league and the players confirmed numerous reports that they were trying to negotiate a settlement to the bargaining deadlock that has produced a lockout that is set to reach 100 days next week."Discussions between NFL owners and players under the auspices of chief magistrate judge Arthur Boylan took place again this week and will continue," the statement said."At the request of judge Boylan, both sides have agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the substance of the talks."Billionaire team owners and multi-millionaire players have been unable to agree upon how to divide $9.1 billion in annual revenues from America's most popular spectator sport, sparking the first NFL shutdown since 1987.With time tightening for work to resume ahead of next month's usual start of team pre-season training camps, the pressure becomes more imperative to come to agreement now or jeopardize at least some of the 2011 American football season."If we don't have something done by July it would be hard to start on time," New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said."It seems like things are moving in the right direction, which is very positive. It's what we always hoped for as players because obviously we're getting to crunch-time."Teams have yet to begin free agency negotiations, trade talks or make contact with draft choices, key elements in assembling talent ahead of making offensive and defensive schemes for the campaign set to start in September.A federal appeals panel is deliberating on whether or not to allow the lockout to continue, but a judge warned both sides that they might not like any outcome the panel reaches.Those attending talks this week and prior secret sessions in Chicago and New York included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and players negotiating leader DeMaurice Smith. Copyright

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