In what could become a $26 million olive branch to its disgruntled retirees, the N.F.L. Players Association on Thursday settled its lawsuit against a group of veteran players in the hope that they could begin a better relationship. The union agreed not to appeal the $28.1 million judgment against it last November, in which a jury found that the union had mishandled the licensing rights of more than 2,000 players. ?This is a step forward in our effort to become one team,? DeMaurice Smith said through a spokesman.