 Making NFL predictions is getting increasingly tougher as it looks more and more like there isn't going to be a season, but at least the two sides are agreeing to get together and discuss things, even if it is begrudgingly.
On Tuesday (April 12), it was revealed that the players' lawyers were in court to speak to U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who will oversee the mediation -- Boylan landed this high-profile case after another judge ruled that the negotiations would be overseen at a neutral table. The two sides agreed to talk earlier this month, but where, when and who would oversee were sticking points.
The players wanted Nelson, while the owners selected George Cohen, who mediated the last set of talks before things were ended on March 11th. Nelson decided it would be best for both sides, if someone new was brought into the proceedings, so Boylan was picked and will spend the next two days getting caught up to speed on the details of the case, speaking with the players and their attorneys on Tuesday, and then the owners and their lawyers on Wednesday (April 13).
It doesn't sound like either side really wants to get back to the negotiations, but at least someone cleared any obstacles in the way of this happening, so Nelson should get some credit for having common sense.
The two sides will get back to the table on Thursday (April 14), so it'll be interesting to see how the first days of discussions go.
At this point, fans should be cautiously optimistic, but very cautious as we try to judge the mood of the conversations, which are supposed to be confidential, but it's tough to keep anything under wraps in this day and age. This is a huge event in these negotiations and it's definitely not the last time you'll hear about this.
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