NFL talks resume Tuesday

Feeling an increasing sense of urgency with the start of the NFL preseason less than a month away, negotiators for the league and the players will resume talks Tuesday on a new collective-bargaining agreement. The talks still are described as tenuous by those involved, despite some optimism that a deal could be in place when the owners meet July 21 in Atlanta.

"It's close enough that there could be a deal," a person affiliated with the players' side said Monday. "But we're far enough away that the lack of a deal shouldn't stun anyone."

Owners are scheduled to be briefed on the status of negotiations at the previously scheduled meeting in Atlanta, and some league and player officials say they believe a deal could be in place by then for ratification. At least 24 of the league's 32 owners must agree to the deal. Players would have to re-form their union, then approve the deal.

"The owners are ready to cut a deal," said Marc Ganis, a sports business consultant who has worked for several NFL teams. "Because of the calendar, I suspect they will get there, but do not underestimate [players' attorney Jeffrey] Kessler's class-action push, and do not underestimate De's [NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith] ability to get ticked about something. De has been strong recently, and the players have benefited. But we don't know yet if he is a closer or a negotiator."

According to people familiar with the negotiations, the biggest hurdle is the rookie wage scale. Owners want to see a dramatic reduction in rookie salaries -- particularly at the top end of the draft -- and players are resisting the idea. Players also want to see rookies signed to a maximum of four years, which would allow them to test unrestricted free agency, and owners want contracts to last as long as five years for the top players in the draft.

Under the NFL's proposal, the compensation for the top player in the draft would go from $78 million over six years to $34 million over five. There would be a provision that the player could renegotiate his contract after three years. Owners also have indicated a willingness to shift some of the money that previously went to unproven draft picks to established veterans.

This week's talks will take place without U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who is on vacation. Boylan, who has overseen mediated talks since April, has called for a meeting July 19 in Minneapolis that will bring the sides together again.

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There has been a growing sense of optimism from both sides that the framework of a deal could be in place by then, and that Boylan could work out a settlement of the antitrust litigation against the league brought by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and nine other named plaintiffs.

"I think the sense of optimism is well placed mostly because of the timing," said a person who has been briefed on the negotiations. "Starting in August, it costs the NFL and the players $200 million per weekend to keep fighting. That makes no sense when most of the big stuff is close or has been decided."

Others are more skeptical about the status of the talks. "I don't share the optimism," a person on the players' side said.

If a deal is reached by next week, the league is likely to resume operations within days. Teams would have a few days to sign their own free agents and draft picks, after which they would be allowed to sign free agents, both undrafted rookies and unrestricted veterans.