Raymond Berry, coach of the New England...

Raymond Berry, coach of the New England Patriots, may face a fine of $100,000 for a reported trip he took Wednesday night to meet with Gene Upshaw, head of the NFL Players Assn.

Berry, according to the Boston Globe, flew from Boston to Washington to discuss with Upshaw the recent Brian Holloway situation. The Patriots traded Holloway to the Raiders shortly after the All-Pro tackle, the team’s player representative, had gone on TV to state the players’ position as a possible strike against the NFL becomes a hot topic.

The Globe said Berry told Upshaw that Holloway’s union activities had nothing to do with his departure.

The union charged that the trade was prompted by Holloway’s union activities, and Upshaw told Jack Donlan, NFL Management Council executive director, that contract negotiations would not continue unless the owners guaranteed that all player representatives receive two-year contract protection. Donlan said the owners would not go along with that demand, and the talks were adjourned.

Because the NFL has a gag rule on all coaches and owners, there is a possibility that Berry could be fined $100,000 for meeting with Upshaw. Friday, the NFL said it is negotiating with two banks for a line of credit of more than $100 million as insurance against potential lost revenue caused by a players’ strike.