After several NFL owners private jets were seen at a small airport in Chicago, rumors ran rapid on Wednesday afternoon. Several reports, including ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, stated that select high profile team owners and NFL commissioner Robert Goodell met secretly in Chicago to discuss the lockout strategy.
As the reports state, the group gathered in a Chicago suburb to discuss the league's labor situation. With only two days before the league and NFL Players Association are scheduled to go before the U.S. 8th Circuit Court, the meeting is drawing a lot of attention. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was one of the few owners spotted Wednesday boarding his private jet at the Chicago-area airport less than 24 hours after arriving.
Along with Mr. Kraft, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson were seen at the same airport, according to the Chicago Tribune. Goodell told some informants around the league there were no significant developments.
Even though the owners and Mr. Goodell tried to keep this meeting a secret, they should know that is a near impossible task. With all eyes on them to reach a new CBA agreement, tension is surly higher than ever. I feel their intentions of keeping this meeting a secret were good because they did not want to give any indications of significant developments.
The 8th Circuit will hear the owner's appeal of a ruling enjoining the lockout on Friday, June 3rd, in St. Louis. The next round of court-ordered mediation is scheduled for June 7th in Minnesota just four days later.
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