The NFL and its players union issued a statement after they met for two hours on Saturday for their first face-to-face negotiation session in several months.

“The NFL and NFL Players Association met for two hours today in a continuing effort to narrow the differences and reach a fair agreement that will benefit the players, teams and fans. We plan to increase the number, length and intensity of bargaining sessions so that we can reach agreement before the March 4 expiration of the current CBA.”

That joint statement came on the heels of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s State of the League speech on Friday which used language that made it sound like more than hope; more like a new CBA will be reached prior to the March 4th deadline.

Goodell went on to say:

“We need to have intensive, around-the clock negotiations to address the issues and find solutions. I can assure you that I have that sense of urgency and I believe both sides do.”

In other words, let’s stop using the media and making public threats, look each other in the eyes and move this train along and not derail it.

Sounds great right?

While the league played a sentiment side from the table, a report surfaced about union contingency plans to disrupt the business of the NFL if a lockout occurs.

Both NFL.com and ESPN.com confirmed sources inside the union report that NFLPA reps have spoken with player agents to determine their interest in boycotting the NFL Combine and upcoming NFL Draft. Over the weekend, Jason LaConfora of NFL Network revealed that there have been meetings between members of the NFLPA and top agents to discuss the practicalities of those moves. But keeping college clients from the Combine seems like it would only hurt the athletes. Not showing up at the draft after all workouts are complete is less of a concern.

There’s a responsibility for an agent to serve their athlete/client and despite campaigning by union head DeMaurice Smith and others, it’s hard to imagine any agent wants to keep his guy from hooking on with an NFL team.

This week’s joint statement indicated that there are two more bargaining sessions scheduled to occur this week. Both sides have been posturing and getting their stories out there with the union producing a commercial in an attempt to get public opinion on their side.

Used with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.

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