Report: NFL union serves league, commissioner, ex-union president subpoenas in civil suit

[Omaha Steve]

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Jul 15, 5:50 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL Players Association has served subpoenas on the NFL, commissioner Roger Goodell and former union president Troy Vincent, according to a report Thursday by Sports Business Journal.

The subpoenas, part of an ongoing civil lawsuit filed by a former union official, seek all documents related to allegations that Vincent and other former NFLPA officials attempted to collude with NFL officials by holding secret meetings to discuss labor talks.

The league's collective bargaining agreement expires next March and a work stoppage is possible without a new deal.

The meetings are alleged to have occurred before current union chief DeMaurice Smith won an election over Vincent to become executive director in March 2009. Vincent was hired by the NFL as vice president of player development earlier this year.

George Atallah, the NFLPA's assistant executive director for external affairs, declined to comment on the subpoenas when reached by The Associated Press.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, "We have no comment on any aspect of this litigation between the NFLPA and one of its former employees."

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