The Sports Xchange

United States District Judge Richard M. Berman entered a motion Tuesday requesting the NFL Players Union and NFL hold settlement talks in advance of Wednesday’s hearing in the long-running drama surrounding New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

“In anticipation of tomorrow’s conference, counsel and the parties are requested to engage in further good faith settlement efforts today. I will meet briefly with counsel and the parties tomorrow morning at 10:30 (in the robing room) for an update on your discussions,” Berman wrote in the filing on which the NFLPA on its own behalf and on behalf of Tom Brady is listed as the defendant.

The NFL Management Council is listed as the plaintiff.

Berman previously ordered commissioner Roger Goodell and Brady to be present Wednesday. A second mediation hearing is already set for one week later, August 19.

Brady’s appeal of a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate and alleged lack of cooperation, including destruction of his cell phone, was denied by Goodell. Goodell is appointed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement to the position of ultimate authority and said he would remain so in all “matters of integrity.”

Goodell, however, was in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs for a meeting of select owners to discuss the potential relocation of an existing NFL franchise — perhaps multiple teams — to Los Angeles.