On Tuesday, when Judge Richard M. Berman directed the NFL and NFL Players Association to continue their settlement discussions prior to Wednesday’s hearing, the two sides had indeed been talking, but they hadn’t been getting anywhere.
Since then, they’ve talked some more — and they still haven’t gotten anywhere.
Albert Breer of NFL Media reports that Brady’s refusal to admit guilt remains a stumbling block. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen was more specific, reporting that Brady would have to “accept” the Ted Wells report.
Here’s the problem for the NFL. In virtually every civil case resolved via settlement, the party accused of wrongdoing admits nothing.