Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS — The NFL and its locked-out players wrapped up their fourth day of court-ordered talks on Wednesday with few signs of progress and no plans to meet again until mid May.
Executive vice president Jeff Pash, the NFL's lead negotiator, said U.S. Judge Magistrate Arthur Boylan told both sides they probably won't convene again until May 16.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson is expected to decide well before then on the players' request for an injunction to immediately lift the lockout, now in its 40th day. Her decision will almost certainly be appealed, but it will give the winning side some leverage in any further talks, even as the clock ticks on the 2011 season.
"That is the judge's decision," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "She will make that ruling when she is prepared to do it, and at that point in time we all will respect the ruling and … get back to the point where we are negotiating."
He said the league is planning to start the season on time.
Also coming: U.S. District Judge David Doty has scheduled a hearing for May 12 on the players' request for damages after he ruled in March that the NFL did not maximize revenues for both sides when it renegotiated $4 billion in TV contracts with the labor dispute looming.
Finally, there could be a fourth set of lawyers and players at the mediation table, with a Philadelphia law firm talking with another group of players about joining the fight.
"We've had discussions about representing some additional players who want to have a voice in the matter," said Bryan Clobes of Cafferty Faucher.
The Sports Business Journal reported that a group of about 70 "midtier" players was considering hiring a law firm to get a seat at the mediation table, upset that talks broke off last month. But Clobes said the number is "nowhere near 70" and that it does not indicate any dissatisfaction with the way things are progressing.
Goodell, Packers CEO Mark Murphy, Falcons president Rich McKay and owners Pat Bowlen of Denver, Jerry Jones of Dallas and Jerry Richardson of Carolina attended Wednesday's session. Players Ben Leber and Mike Vrabel were joined by Hall of Famer Carl Eller and attorneys for the talks with Boylan. All declined comment.
The sides have spent four days with Boylan, following 16 days of failed talks in front of a federal mediator in Washington.
Bucs assistant charged with DUI
TAMPA — An assistant to Bucs coach Raheem Morris was arrested early Wednesday on a charge of DUI.
Police said Jayson Kaiser, 37, was driving on N Dale Mabry Highway with the lights off in a white 2006 Hyundai when an officer pulled him over near W Osborne Avenue and noted his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and he smelled of alcohol.
Kaiser was arrested shortly after midnight. He denied drinking and refused to perform any field sobriety tests or take a breath test for alcohol, police said.
Kaiser, also known as Jay, often drives Morris to events, but Morris said he was at home and not with Kaiser during his arrest.
Kaiser was still being held in jail on bail of $500. His car was impounded.
A team spokesman said the matter was being dealt with internally.
Kaiser's the third member of the coaching/front-office staff to be arrested in the past year. Assistant offensive line coach Chris Mosley was arrested in September, and pro scouting coordinator Shelton Quarles was arrested in March, both on DUI charges.
Times staff