Concessions for Brady suit plaintiffs not an issue in labor talks

WASHINGTON -- Things still are standing in the way of NFL labor peace. The issue of placating the named plaintiffs in the Brady antitrust lawsuit no longer is one, for now.

Requests for concessions for numerous players -- including but not limited to San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins -- remained earlier in the week. But Jackson and Mankins appear to have dropped their demands, leaving less standing in the way of a new collective bargaining agreement that would end the four-month-old NFL lockout.

A source involved said Saturday that some of the unresolved issues involve injury protection, workers' compensation, opt-out rights for players and the process for finalizing benefits, discipline and drug-testing agreements, which can't be made binding until after the NFL Players Association recertifies as a union.

A league source told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that league owners are expected to have a conference call Saturday to discuss the outstanding issues.

Wyche: Four areas of agreement

NFLPA lawyers and officials are digesting the league's proposal for a new CBA this weekend, and NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported Friday that no vote on ratification was imminent. Some player reps have advised their teammates that it could take several days for the NFLPA to agree to terms with the league and begin the union recertification process. Of course, that could change if major gains are made in negotiations.

The major economic framework for a 10-year deal was worked out a week ago. That included how the $9 billion-plus in annual league revenues will be divided (about 53 percent to owners and 47 percent to players over the next decade; the old CBA resulted in nearly a 50-50 split); a per-club cap of about $120 million for salary and bonuses in 2011 -- and at least that in 2012 and 2013 -- plus about $22 million in benefits; a salary system to rein in spending on first-round draft picks; and unrestricted free agency for most players after four seasons.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and league owners expressed hope Thursday night that their 31-0 vote -- the Oakland Raiders abstained -- to approve the proposed CBA would lead to a speedy resolution to the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987. They called it an equitable deal that improves player safety and allows the sport to prosper even more.

"It is time to get back to football," Goodell said.

But even when players decide they're OK with a final agreement, their approval process is more complicated than the owners' was. The 32 player reps will have to recommend accepting the settlement. Then the 10 named plaintiffs -- including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees -- in the players' suit against the league must officially inform the court of their approval.

Eventually, all 1,900 players would take a majority vote to approve returning the NFLPA to union status. When talks broke down in March, allowing the old collective bargaining agreement to expire, the players dissolved the union, turning the NFLPA into a trade association. That's what allowed the players to sue the owners in federal court under antitrust law.

The issue of how and when the NFLPA would reform as a union remains paramount. There is a difference between the players and owners as to how that process would occur. NFLPA lawyers and brass believe there are "major problems with the process of reforming the union and settling the lawsuits," as spelled out in the proposal presented by the owners, one source told La Canfora.

Complicating matters is the fact some players have been referred to an illegitimate website that is posing as a vehicle to help players vote to reconstitute a union. The NFLPA sent a letter to all players and agents Friday advising them to ignore the site and that it isn't affiliated with the organization or the NFL.

NFL Network insiders Jason La Canfora and Michael Lombardi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Brady happy to rejoin fellow Pats, hopeful of labor resolution

Tom Brady is putting in some football work this week.

After three days of workouts with some of his New England Patriots teammates, the quarterback headlined a charity touch football game at Harvard University.

Brady took a break during halftime of Friday night's game benefiting Best Buddies International, which supports programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to briefly comment on the NFL's labor stalemate and when it will end.

"Nobody knows. Hopefully soon," Brady said. "There's been a lot (of) positive moves from both sides. Everyone is working hard toward a great outcome. And I'm confident that a lot of reasonable people will come to a very reasonable agreement."

Brady's comments were rather polite compared to the arguments made earlier in the day before a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

Brady, who's among the 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the league, said he's looking forward to the 2011 season, even if fans and some players are growing restless during the nearly three-month work stoppage that's threatening it.

Brady said veterans and young players alike have a responsibility to leave the NFL in better conditions than when they entered.

"We all stick together and we realize how important each one of us are to each other," he said. "A lot of guys really care about the game."

More than 40 Patriots players joined Brady for workouts Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Boston College's Alumni Stadium. Coaches couldn't attend because of the lockout, leaving Brady in charge.

"It's been fun to see a lot of the guys," the quarterback told the Boston Herald. "I think there's a lot of good work."

Brady also said his right foot is fine nearly five months after he had surgery to repair a stress fracture.

"I feel good," he said. "Good enough to run around here and have fun, and I'm excited for football season."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Brady back for more, heads Patriots' heavily attended practice

BOSTON -- Tom Brady has done plenty of traveling this offseason -- to Brazil for Carnival; to Mexico, where he navigated a water slide; to the Kentucky Derby, where he sported a Panama hat over his long locks.

Patriots QB Tom Brady throws a pass during Thursday's players-only workout at Boston College. (Winslow Townson/Associated Press)

All captured, of course, on camera.

Now the New England Patriots' globe-trotting quarterback is back in Massachusetts with teammates at informal workouts.

"Oh," wide receiver Wes Welker told them with a smile as he left, "you found us."

Just 20 miles north of his home stadium in Foxborough, Brady helped lead the session at Boston College's Alumni Stadium on Thursday.

More than 40 players, including several draft choices, attended. There was no hitting -- since injuries wouldn't be covered by the team -- uniforms or football pads. Most players wore T-shirts and shorts. Still, they were together while the NFL lockout kept them from practicing at Gillette Stadium.

"We're running around, and we're just doing some basic stuff," linebacker Rob Ninkovich said after the two-hour session, "but it feels good because we're together and everyone's out there having fun. So we're just waiting for all this stuff to be over with and then we'll be back, hopefully soon."

The workouts began Wednesday and were expected to continue Friday.

While many players have regularly worked out in the area, Brady has done it elsewhere.

The quarterback returned for the workouts and activities of Best Buddies International, which supports programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He'll participate in a Friday touch football game at Harvard and a Saturday charity bike ride that Patriots coach Bill Belichick is expected to attend.

On Thursday, though, there weren't any coaches -- the lockout forbids them from running team practices. So Brady took charge of the offense, and linebacker Jerod Mayo ran the defense.

"The best thing about it is just that we get to hear some plays again," running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis said. "Everybody got familiar with the sounds and the terms."

There were positional drills, pass routes run at slow speed and sprints from sideline to sideline on a sunny, breezy morning.

Brady walked without a noticeable limp 4½ months after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture on his right foot. At one point, he dropped back, pumped his arm toward the middle, then threw a completion on the right side to another quarterback, Brian Hoyer.

Hardly typical of a disciplined Belichick practice.

"It's just good to be around all these guys," Hoyer said. "That's the main thing."

During the closed workout, several reporters stood behind a locked gate and peered through binoculars at the players.

While Hoyer conducted a 23-second interview as he left, Brady passed by, smiled and said, "Come on, Hoy, no media interviews."

Among those attending were wide receiver Deion Branch, tight end Rob Gronkowski, center Dan Koppen and defensive backs Devin McCourty and Brandon Meriweather. The draft picks included first-rounder Nate Solder, a tackle from Colorado, and third-rounder Ryan Mallett, a quarterback from Arkansas.

Several players who were sidelined for most of last season -- running back Kevin Faulk, defensive end Ty Warren and defensive tackle Mike Wright -- also participated.

Faulk has spent 12 seasons with the Patriots, although he played in just two games in 2010 because of a torn ligament in his right knee, and is unsigned. Danny Woodhead took over his role as the third-down back and also was at the workout.

"I'm fine, just trying to get back into form, that's all," Faulk said. "Right now, you can't say anybody's ready. We're just trying to get back into football."

Ninkovich said he has regularly worked out with Mayo and about 10 other players who remained in the area after the season ended with a 28-21 playoff loss to the New York Jets.

The large turnout this week showed "team camaraderie," Ninkovich said.

"Last year, we didn't end it the way we wanted to, so this year, we've got to start all over again," he said. "I'm just getting ready to play ball, and whenever they tell me to play, I'll be ready. That's all you can do."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Brady heads to Boston, will lead Patriots' workouts

Tom Brady will lead the New England Patriots in players-only workouts beginning Wednesday, ESPN Boston reported, citing sources familiar with his plans.

The quarterback, who is returning to the Boston area for charity appearances Friday night and Saturday for Best Buddies International, contacted teammates about joining him on the field while he was in the region, and sources said a number of teammates have traveled to join him.

Brady has been recuperating from foot surgery in January and working out in his native California. He was especially interested in pass-catchers joining the workouts, sources said.

Locally based players, such as tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Brandon Tate, won't have to alter their plans much to join Brady's sessions. Receiver Julian Edelman, who has been working out in Los Angeles, flew to Boston on Tuesday.

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Pats' Brady sets NFL mark for pass attempts without interception

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has set the NFL record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception.

Milestone Tracker

Tom Brady wasn't the only player to set a record Sunday. Find out who else reached milestones in Week 16. More

Brady broke the mark of 308 attempts without a pick previously set by Cleveland's Bernie Kosar over the 1990 and 1991 seasons with his 17th attempt in the third quarter of New England's game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It came on a short pass over the middle that tight end Rod Gronkowski dropped at the goal line.

The two then hooked up for an 8-yard TD on the next play to put the Patriots ahead 31-3. Brady opened the game going 10-of-18 passing for 87 yards and three touchdowns.

Brady has thrown just four interceptions this season, his last coming nine games ago when he threw two in a 23-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 17.

Copyright 2010 by the Associated Press

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Brady back at Pats practice; Branch sits out with knee injury

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after missing the previous day's practice with the flu.

Brady, listed on the practice report with right shoulder and foot injuries, declined to speak with reporters Thursday, but he worked with teammates in preparation for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Brandon Deaderick returned to practice on a limited basis after being held out Wednesday because of a shoulder injury. Defensive end Ron Brace (concussion) and defensive tackle Myron Pryor (back) also were limited.

Wide receiver Deion Branch missed Thursday's practice with a lingering knee injury, along with tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip), Mike Wright (concussion), linebackers Jermaine Cunningham (calf) and Tully Banta-Cain (groin), and guard Dan Connolly (concussion).

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Pats QB Brady: Reports of Moss altercation 'certainly not' true

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told WEEI-AM on Tuesday that he never had a confrontation with Randy Moss before the star wide receiver was traded to the Minnesota Vikings last week.

"No, certainly not," Brady said on the Boston radio station's "The Dennis & Callahan Show." "I don't know why these things come about, but they do. I think it's just a competitive media culture out there now.

"I love (Moss) as a person and a player. I don't think I ever had an altercation with a teammate. You demand a certain level of respect in the locker room, that's the culture of our team. I don't think I've seen any players in our locker room fight, that's just not the way it is."

In a pregame show Sunday, CBS analyst Charley Casserly reported that Brady and Moss "went toe-to-toe and had to be separated" the week before the trade.

Casserly, general manager of the Washington Redskins from 1989 to 1999 and Houston Texans from 2000 to 2006, said: "One of Brady's problems with Moss was his behavior as a Patriot. Then one of the things that was overheard was Brady telling Moss, 'You need to cut your beard.' Moss counters, 'You need to get your hair cut. You look like a girl.'"

Patriots coach Bill Belichick downplayed the report.

"That's news to me," Belichick said Monday during a conference call.

Moss and Brady praised each other after the trade, as had been their custom in public comments throughout their three-plus seasons as teammates.

The Boston Herald reported Tuesday that Brady sent Moss a text message before the Vikings' Monday night game against the New York Jets.

Brady refused to tell WEEI what the texts included, but Moss had a message for the quarterback following the Vikings' 29-20 loss.

"Tom, I know you watching buddy, I appreciate that text," Moss told reporters. "Sorry we didn't bring it home, buddy, but I appreciate the text."

Brady was asked if he had any say in the Moss trade.

"Certainly not. I'm a player on this team just like all the other players," he said. "Obviously, I talk a lot to the coaches and they talk to the players. They never come and say, 'Well, what do you think about this?' No. We show up to work and we do our job. And I think that's the best way to handle things as a player.

"I've become very emotional in the past about losing certain players, and I think that's affected me, which in turn has impacted the team," Brady added. "I think when you're an older player on the team and you've seen guys come and go, and you win and you lose, to be level-headed and to not be unemotional but to be maybe not surprised, you just go about your business and you try to put it behind you and move forward with the guys you've got, because that's what you really owe the team."

Brady refused to speculate on Moss being unhappy during his time with the Patriots.

"Well, I have no idea," Brady said. "... With all due respect, with all the different questions I'm sure you guys have about Randy, he's moved on. He played for another team last night. And we've moved on. We had two practices last week and we're prepared to move on as we always have. And that doesn't diminish anything that he's done or has accomplished for our team, because he's obviously an exceptional player. But we've got a season to play."

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Brady was asked how the Patriots will make up for the loss of Moss, who posted 259 receptions, 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns during his 52 games with the team. The Patriots tried to fill the void Monday by reacquiring wide receiver Deion Branch from the Seattle Seahawks.

"I don't think there's any one solution," Brady said. "You just don't replace a guy with Randy's talent and ability down the field. You replace it with maybe using the strengths of other players ... Randy certainly has his strengths. Wes (Welker) has his strengths. The tight ends have their strengths. I think it's up to the coaching staff when you game plan to determine what your players do the best, and those are the things that you ultimately do.

"I still think we have a lot of confidence that we can move the football," Brady added. "I think we still have some explosive players in the passing game, I don't think there's any doubt about that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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