Sides negotiate, 'nothing to report'

[August 14, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL and the players association met Friday for a negotiating session toward a new collective bargaining agreement, with a league spokesman saying there "was nothing to report."

Both sides have met infrequently this year, the final one before the CBA expires next March. The last meeting was in June, when they discussed adding two games to the regular season and reducing the preseason from four games to two.

Earlier this week, New York Giants owner John Mara expressed confidence a deal would get done. But he acknowledged that "crunch time" has yet to arrive.

"The differences are not insurmountable," Mara told The Associated Press. "We have had no stoppages since 1987 and I am optimistic we will be able to reach agreement prior to the 2011 season. Both sides have too much at stake and realize that. But I can't say we're in the same ballpark right now.

"My experience in labor negotiations is that oftentimes a deal will not get made until both sides feel a lot of pressure to get it done. The owners are all convinced a deal will get done and we have the opportunity to get a deal that works for everybody. Nobody is looking forward to a work stoppage. Nobody wants that."

NFL owners opted out of the CBA in 2008. The 2010 season has no salary cap.

[Associated Press; By BARRY WILNER]

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