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NEW YORK (AP) — Calling the players’ offer “fair for both sides,”
star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees –
plaintiffs in an antitrust suit against the NFL – said Wednesday
“it is time” to wrap up negotiations on a deal to end the league’s
lockout.
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Brady, Manning and Brees spoke as a group publicly for the first
time with talks in a critical phase, four months into the league’s
first work stoppage since 1987. Players and owners met Wednesday
morning at a Manhattan law office for the latest round of
discussions. Talks continued into the afternoon.
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Deadlines are coming up next week to get training camps and the
preseason started on time. Although it seems the sides have agreed
on the basic elements of how to split more than $9 billion in
annual revenues, among the key sticking points recently have been
how to structure a new rookie salary system and what free agency
will look like.
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In a statement released to The Associated Press via the NFL Players
Association, New England’s Brady, Indianapolis’ Manning and New
Orleans’ Brees said: “We believe the overall proposal made by the
players is fair for both sides and it is time to get this deal
done.”
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They continued: “This is the time of year we as players turn our
attention to the game on the field. We hope the owners feel the
same way.”
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In response, the NFL issued a statement saying: “We share the view
that now is the time to reach an agreement so we can all get back
to football and a full 2011 season. We are working hard with the
players’ negotiating team every day to complete an agreement as
soon as possible.”
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Brady, Manning and Brees are among 10 players who are named
plaintiffs in an antitrust suit that is pending in federal court in
Minnesota. That class-action lawsuit was filed March 11, hours
after federally mediated negotiations to arrive at a new collective
bargaining agreement broke down, and the old labor contract
expired. The NFLPA immediately dissolved itself, meaning players no
longer were protected under labor law but instead were allowed to
take their chances under antitrust law.
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On March 12, the owners imposed a lockout on the players, a right
management has to shut down a business when a CBA expires. During
the lockout, there can be no communication between the teams and
current NFL players; no players – including those drafted in April
– can be signed; teams won’t pay for players’ health
insurance.
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A series of court rulings followed, including one last week from an
appeals court that said the lockout could continue.
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Talks resumed in May, overseen by a court-appointed mediator, U.S.
Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who is on vacation this week.
Boylan ordered both sides to speak with him in Minneapolis next
Tuesday, and the owners have a special meeting set for July 21 in
Atlanta, where they could vote to ratify a new deal if one is
reached.
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That means there’s intense pressure on NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith to keep things moving in a
positive direction. Disruptions to the planned preseason schedule
would decrease the overall revenue pie.
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Smith was among those arriving Wednesday morning for talks, along
with powerful team owners Robert Kraft of the Patriots, John Mara
of the New York Giants and Jerry Jones of the Dallas
Cowboys.
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