The NFL and players union representatives met for much of the afternoon Wednesday in Washington to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement.
It was the second session in five days, the previous negotiations taking place Saturday in Dallas. Another session is set for today.
Neither side would comment on what was discussed or how fruitful the talks were.
Team owners opted out of the CBA in 2008 and the current contract expires March 3. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell heavily emphasized the need to get a deal done soon at his Super Bowl news conference last week.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has said he expects the owners to lock out the players after the CBA expires.
Team owners want a bigger cut of the revenues, which are roughly $9 billion, as well as a rookie wage scale and to increase the regular season by two games to 18, dropping two preseason games.
The players think those two extra games will cause a rise in injuries, although that issue appears more negotiable than giving back any percentage of the revenue pool.
The NFL has had labor peace since a 1987 players strike that led to three games with replacement players.
Cleveland is cleaning house. The team terminated the contracts of some big-name players, including their biggest player -- enormous nose tackle Shaun Rogers . In addition, the Browns, who are rebuilding once again under new coach Pat Shurmur , also released veteran linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens , defensive end Kenyon Coleman , tight end Robert Royal and right offensive tackle John St. Clair . The 350-pound-plus Rogers, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was slowed by injuries and played sparingly this past season. He was due to make $5.5 million in 2011 with a $500,000 roster bonus.
New Tennessee coach Mike Munchak of Penn State hired his friend and former teammate, Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews , to coach the Titans offensive line. Matthews was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft by the then-Houston Oilers and went on to play 19 seasons for the franchise, earning 14 consecutive Pro Bowl selections and nine first-team All-Pro honors. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Minnesota's lottery scratch-off game was a resounding success in its first year, and the team hopes to use some of the money generated to help pay for a new stadium. The Vikings partnered with the Minnesota State Lottery and the NFL on a Vikings-themed scratch game just before the team reported to training camp in late July. The $10 game cleared $12 million in total sales, making it one of the most successful games in the state. The team has been in a years-long fight at the state capitol to get a new stadium to replace the outdated Metrodome, a pursuit that has only intensified since the dome's roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow in December. The collapse forced the Vikings to move one home game to Detroit and play another outdoors at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium in the final month of the season.
Indianapolis hired David Walker as the new running backs coach and Devin Fitzsimmsons as a coaching assistant. Walker replaces longtime running backs coach Gene Huey, who was fired. Walker coached the running backs at Pitt from 2005-10 and was recently hired as Maryland's running backs coach.
North Carolina said newly hired assistant coach Brian Baker is leaving to take a job with Dallas. Baker will coach the Cowboys defensive line, the same position he had with the Tar Heels.
Atlanta released veteran safety Erik Coleman , who lost his starting job to William Moore in 2010.
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