NFL Owners, Union Make No Headway
Wednesday, February 22, 2006; Page E02
Representatives of NFL owners and the players' union met yesterday in Indianapolis but failed to make any breakthroughs in negotiations on an extension of the sport's labor agreement.
The talks are scheduled to continue today, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and St. Louis Rams President John Shaw are scheduled to join the owners' delegation.
  The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Jaguars Tackle in Critical Condition • Lions Bolster Backfield With R. Johnson |
NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw has set the end of this week as the deadline for completing a deal that would keep the sport's salary cap system in place beyond the 2006 season. The current labor deal would keep the salary cap in place through next season, then there would be a season without a salary cap in 2007 before the collective bargaining agreement expires. . . .
The New York Jets placed their franchise-player tag on defensive end John Abraham , limiting Abraham's mobility on the free agent market. The team likely will explore the possibility of trading him. If he stays with the Jets as their franchise player, he would have a salary of $8.332 million next season.
-- Mark Maske
