Goodell to participate in labor negotiations

From the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tells The Associated Press he'll participate in the latest round of labor negotiations with the players' union.

Goodell says he will be present Wednesday in New York for talks about a new collective bargaining agreement. He spoke to the AP after testifying before a congressional committee Tuesday.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith also is to attend Wednesday's session.

The NFL opted out of the collective bargaining agreement last year, although the contract won't expire until after the 2010 season. That season will not have a salary cap under the current CBA, and Smith has said he hopes to have an agreement before then.

The old contract was negotiated in 2006.