Mediation between negotiators for the NFL players and owners is set to resume Tuesday in Minneapolis. The sides took a break following 13 hours of discussions over two days last Wednesday and Thursday.
NFLPA executive George Atallah tweeted on Monday evening that executive director DeMaurice Smith "will not attend tomorrow's sessions due to a family medical emergency. Thanks for respecting his personal privacy."
The sides were together for longer than nine hours Thursday in the Minneapolis courtroom chambers of Judge Arthur J. Boylan, and mediated talks recessed Friday after a little more than four hours.
Perhaps the break in talks was not surprising considering reports that Thursday's talks were "tough" and included a large amount of "fence-mending."
That would be in reference to the first 16 days of mediation in Washington, D.C., that failed and resulted in the decertification of the union and a league-imposed lockout. In the days that followed, each side criticized the other, with several players calling NFL representatives liars over their characterization of the league's last offer.
As Friday's session ended, Boylan reportedly gave each side a directive to be prepared to negotiate and gave them "homework," according to retired players' attorney Michael Hausfeld. A players' attorney said they have "a lot of work to do" between now and Tuesday.
Albert Breer of NFL Network reported that Boylan is being very methodical because of the sensitivity of the talks and added that both sides are "serious" about the talks because of the possible consequences.
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Carl Eller, one of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit brought by retired players, said he believes there has been some "moving forward," although he did say things "slowed a little bit."
After Thursday's talks, Hausfeld said Boylan indicated mediation would continue "as long as it makes sense."
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