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Players move process along incrementally

Print | Comments () Posted by Greg A. Bedard July 20, 2011 05:08 PM

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By Greg A. Bedard, Globe staff

National Football League players left their headquarters in Washington, D.C. without taking a formal vote on a potential collective bargaining agreement.

Players reps did vote, according to Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated, to conditionally forward the settlement to the 10 plaintiffs in the Brady v. NFL case if some of the outstanding issues can be resolved.

What those exact issues are and how long they will take to resolve them is unknown. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and his lawyers are expected to work tonight and tomorrow over the phone with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his team.

Team owners will convene in Atlanta tomorrow to debate and vote on the CBA, even before the players do.

Patriots team president Jonathan Kraft, who is mourning the death of his mother, Myra, will attend tomorrow's session in place of his father, team owner Robert Kraft. His mother's service is on Friday morning. Someone else from the organization could cast the vote if there is a delay.

It's very possible the two sides finish the remaining issues and both sides ratify the CBA on Thursday. It could spill into Friday, or, possibly, even next week.