Round 4 of the “secret” negotiations is over. Round 5 is coming soon — perhaps to a suburban locale near you.
NFL owners and players met for the second straight day in Hull, Mass., 18 miles south of Boston, as they attempt to close in on a collective bargaining agreement.
“The players and owners were here over the last two days,” commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday as he stood next to players association chief DeMaurice Smith. “De and I were here for the entire meetings also. And it’s complicated and it’s complex, but we’re working hard and we understand the fans’ frustration. But I think both of us feel strongly that we’re going to continue to work hard at it.”
A league statement said the sides will have more meetings. Those talks are expected next week; in the last four weeks, the owners and players have met outside of Chicago, New York and on the Maryland shore before heading to the beachside in New England.
“Someone asked me whether I was optimistic,” Smith said. “I think we’re both optimistic when we have the right people in the room. We know we’re talking about the right issues and that we’re working hard to get it done.”
The two sides have exchanged proposals on a variety of issues. The main topic has been how to divide revenues — $9.3 billion last year — and league owners were briefed this week on a plan that would give the players just under 50 percent of total income. An off-the-top expense credit of about $1 billion that went to the owners would be eliminated.
Also being discussed are a rookie wage scale and a more specific breakdown of benefits for retired players.
Ainge moving on
NEW YORK — Jets backup quarterback Erik Ainge said he is moving on from his football playing career because of injuries to his right foot and throwing shoulder. Ainge, nearly a year clean of drugs and alcohol, missed all of last NFL season while dealing with recovery from his addictions.
