We are half way home!!!!!! CBA approved by owners!

[SteelCityMan786]

I don't blame the players for doing that anyway. My guess is they didn't want to take away attention from Kraft's funeral. But Commissioner Goodell, PLEASE STOP WITH THE PR STUNTS!!! That vote was a BLATANT PR stunt so you could get all of the fans on your side. How about actually give us notice that you have a deal in principle first before you vote on something. Especially when some portions of that deal were supposedly not even negotiated, and when the players union has had no chance to even recertify as a union. I have no sympathy to either DeMaurice or Roger. Both of them need to resign NOW.

[zulater]

It's all but over now, looks like players will report Wednedsay to their respective camps. Free agency is going to be insane this year!

[HometownGal]

It's all but over now, looks like players will report Wednedsay to their respective camps. Free agency is going to be insane this year!

Yep.

WASHINGTON -- There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel again.

After a roller-coaster week, NFL owners and players made big progress toward a labor settlement Saturday, according to sources on both sides.

The timeline for the NFL Players Association to recertify still needs to be worked out, but it was discussed. Also, there are the post-deal issues on benefits (including drug testing) and discipline that will be dealt with after union re-certification. But things seem to be on track again, and some of the bad feelings engendered at the end of the week have subsided.

Talks between the players and owners are ongoing, with the parties trying to build on the progress. Among the areas covered Saturday are the opt-out language, workers comp, injury protection clauses, and the process to finish a CBA with post-certification issues (benefits, drugs, discipline) if the union is reformed.

Terms of proposal approved by owners According to multiple NFLPA sources, there is no plan for an executive committee meeting or any kind of vote yet. But those things could come together quickly.

Sources involved in the negotiations also told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that they believe it's possible the league year will start by Wednesday and training camps could open by Friday. Depending on the timing of a full agreement being reached and Judge Arthur Boylan signing off on a global settlement, free agency and training camp also could open simultaneously, sources said.

Earlier Saturday, it was learned that the league no longer had to worry about placating the named plaintiffs in the Brady antitrust lawsuit. Requests for concessions for numerous players -- including but not limited to San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins -- remained earlier in the week. But Jackson and Mankins dropped their demands for $10 million to settle the suit against the league, leaving fewer obstacles to a new collective bargaining agreement that would end the four-month-old NFL lockout.

Read more at: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...module=HP11_cp

[siss]

Thats the NFL's gift to Mr. and Mrs. Ben Roethlisberger.

[stillers4me]

rumors all over twitter that this is coming to an end!

[steeldawg]

lets get it done boys! Get ready to ride the free agency rollercoaster.

[86WARD]

Monday...

[Steeldude]

According to LaCanfora, Newton's deal would be around 35M for five years. Still high but way more reasonable than previous years

http://twitter.com/#!/JasonLaCanfora...48007058571264

so ridiculous. rookies shouldn't receive more than a million per year. prove what you are worth then get the money

[fansince'76]

so ridiculous. rookies shouldn't receive more than a million per year. prove what you are worth then get the money

The real key is how much Newton and the other first rounders will get in guaranteed money. According to that tweet, Newton will get less than half of what Bradford got a year earlier over the life of the contract as the #1 pick. Bradford got $50 million guaranteed for a contract with a maximum value of $78 million, so using the same ratio of guaranteed money/max value of contract (approx. 64%), Newton will likely see in the neighborhood of $20-$22 million guaranteed of that $35 million. So he still basically won the lottery, just not the Powerball.

[Steeldude]

The real key is how much Newton and the other first rounders will get in guaranteed money. According to that tweet, Newton will get less than half of what Bradford got a year earlier over the life of the contract as the #1 pick. Bradford got $50 million guaranteed for a contract with a maximum value of $78 million, so using the same ratio of guaranteed money/max value of contract (approx. 64%), Newton will likely see in the neighborhood of $20-$22 million guaranteed of that $35 million. So he still basically won the lottery, just not the Powerball.

yep and extremely overpaid. if was an owner i would scrapped the entire season. if the players don't like it then go elsewhere. there are plenty of people dying to play in the NFL for far less money. if the players want the owners' money then go buy a team.

kordell...i mean...newton is going to suck. the panthers were morons for picking him. didn't they draft two QBs in last year's draft?

[zulater]

I don't blame the players for doing that anyway. My guess is they didn't want to take away attention from Kraft's funeral. But Commissioner Goodell, PLEASE STOP WITH THE PR STUNTS!!! That vote was a BLATANT PR stunt so you could get all of the fans on your side. How about actually give us notice that you have a deal in principle first before you vote on something. Especially when some portions of that deal were supposedly not even negotiated, and when the players union has had no chance to even recertify as a union. I have no sympathy to either DeMaurice or Roger. Both of them need to resign NOW.

The players made mountains out of molehills, and got their panties in a collective twist over nothing of substance. The only thing new the owners introduced Thursday night was a revenue sharing plan amongst themselves, and that has nothing to do with the players.

[HometownGal]

Looks like we're almost there!!!

By all accounts, the painstaking NFL lockout will be lifted this week with the ratification by both the league and players of a new collective bargaining agreement. As much toil, acrimony and angst as this process has caused, once pen is put to paper and the 10-year deal is done, the process of it all will be history.

The next phase -- the phase of actual football -- will (finally) be the rage. Instead of conjecture on potential trades, which team is acquiring which free agent and what rookies will earn starting roster spots, we will have answers.

Let's take a look at what's in store for what could be one of the most historic (and hectic) weeks in NFL history:

» All signs indicate that the NFL Players Association will recertify as a union and ratify the CBA that owners already have approved. These procedures are expected to be final by Tuesday.

» If the union opts to recertify, players under contract can begin reporting to team facilities, possibly by mid-week. There should be some intriguing scenes in Cincinnati, Carolina and Washington.

Carson Palmer is expected to be a no-show for Bengals camp. No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton figures to be in the Panthers' facility early (that might not be the case for wide receiver Steve Smith). Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth -- likely ex-Redskins in the near future -- might or might not show (guessing McNabb does, but Haynesworth waits until right before the first day of practice).


» Terms of proposal approved by owners Questions also remain about if free agents will be allowed to go to team facilities to possibly vote for union recertification. This could be a nice little recruiting ploy for teams that might be interested in certain free agents. That player could show up to vote, "accidentally" bump into a few coaches and other team personnel, and have a conversation or two under the guise of a random interaction. Hmm ...

Read more at: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...module=HP11_cp