NEW YORK -- Hoping to avoid opening the NFL season with
replacement officials, commissioner Paul Tagliabue is cutting short
a trip to Mexico.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday that Tagliabue plans to
meet Monday with Tom Condon, who represents the league's officials
"in a final attempt to reach an agreement."
Tagliabue was scheduled to leave New York on Saturday for Mexico
City, where the Dallas Cowboys are playing the Oakland Raiders in
a preseason game Monday night. Instead, he will fly to Dallas on
Monday to meet with Condon.
"The commissioner considers this an extremely important meeting
to avoid the necessity of using alternate officials," Aiello said.
Condon did not immediately return telephone messages left Friday
by The Associated Press.
The NFL began hiring replacement officials Wednesday, paying
each $4,000 even if the dispute with the regular officials is
settled. The league also said it is ready to put them on the field
for the final preseason game.
Under the agreement, they are guaranteed $2,000 each for two
games whether there is a strike or lockout or not.
On Thursday, Tagliabue sent letters to each of the NFL's game
officials outlining the proposal the league has made to the
officials' union.
Condon has said at various times he expects the talks to come
down to the final days, "as they usually do."
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