NFL Owners, Commissioner Secretly Pow-wow in Chicago

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 2, 2011 3:00PM

A number of influential NFL team owners and league commissioner Roger Goodell convened a secret meeting in the Chicago area yesterday. In fact, it was so under the radar, other league owners were unaware until after the fact.

NFL owners wrapped up their official meetings last week in Indianapolis, but a group that included Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones met in the western suburbs. Kraft was photographed boarding his private plane at DuPage Airport on Wednesday while Jones' Gulfstream emblazoned with his team's star was also spotted on the tarmac. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was seen arriving by plane on Tuesday night, and rumors also place Panthers owner Jerry Richardson in attendance. But what about a member of the McCaskey clan? Did Michael or George slip down from Lake Forest undetected to attend?

Nobody has commented about the subject of the clandestine meeting, so we don't know for sure the exact topic but it surely must relate to the ongoing NFL lockout. ESPN reports this morning that NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith as well as other players association officials were also present at the meeting, which comes just days ahead of the next court date for the two sides. On Friday is the next hearing involving lockout-related lawsuits in the U.S. 8th Circuit Court in St. Louis, which has tended to side with the owners.