NFL Players Thank the Fans!

The NFL Players have put together a special thank you for the fans now that the lockout is over and football is back. Take a look.

Football is back, baby!

The NFLPA has unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Owners today.

The players will now send the vote out to the entire league of NFL Players to approve.  The players will then vote to recertify the union after which the final negotiations on CBA issues such as certain health benefits, injury settlements, drug policy and more will be done.

Here's what the CBA looks like from Pro Football Talk.com.

Now, moving forward, here's the latest schedule for the next week:

Tuesday
Facilities Open for Voluntary Conditioning Workouts & Classes
Drafted and Undrafted Rookies can be signed (10am)
Teams can negotiate with any free agents (10am)Trades can be made

Thursday
Teams can cut and waive players (4:01pm)

Friday
Training Camps open
Free Agency opens at 6pm

League Year can start no later than August 4th.

NFL Timeline Coming Together

With the NFLPA and Owners coming to agreement on a new CBA today, the timeline for the NFL season is starting to come together, according to the NFL Network.

Here's the latest schedule:

Tuesday
Facilities Open for Voluntary Conditioning Workouts & Classes
Drafted and Undrafted Rookies can be signed (10am)
Teams can negotiate with any free agents (10am)
Trades can be made

Thursday
Teams can cut and waive players (4:01pm)

Friday
Training Camps open
Free Agency opens at 6pm

League Year can start no later than August 4th.

NFLPA and Owners Agree on New Deal - Let the frenzy begin!

The NFL Players and Owners have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement this morning, according to Fox Sports Jay Glazer.

The deal will be announced on Monday afternoon.  Training camps would open as early as Wednesday.  Free agency could start as soon as Tuesday with teams being allowed to sign their own free agents as well as begin to talk to other free agents.

The league year would officially start on August 2nd.

NFLPA's Latest Statement

The NFLPA has released the following statement on the status of their taking a look at the latest proposal that was ratified by the NFL Owners on Thursday:

“Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification.  There will not be any further NFLPA statements today out of respect for the Kraft family while they mourn the loss of Myra Kraft.”

NFLPA President Kevin Mawae released the statement, thus contradicting media reports that a vote would be taken today by the players.

More Ominous Emails from the NFLPA

Now, we get a 2nd email from the NFLPA, this time their general counsel, explaining in ominous terms to its membership why they don't want to recertify the union just yet as the NFL owners want them to do.

"In addition to depriving the players of the time needed to consider forming a union and making needed changes to the old agreement, this proposed procedure would in my view also violate federal labor laws. Those laws prohibit employers from coercing their employees into forming a union, and could result in any agreement reached through the procedure being declared null and void."

Albert Breer from the NFL Network has more here. 

NFLPA says NO agreement

Thanks to Jim Trotter of SI.com and Chris Mortensen of ESPN, we get this email sent to the NFL Player Reps by DeMaurice Smith after the NFL Owners approved their CBA this evening.

“As you know the Owners have ratified their proposal to settle our differences.  It is my understanding they are forwarding it to us.  As you may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal.  Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions.  As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unresolved.  There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time.  I look forward to our call tonight.”

YIKES! There will be NO vote by the NFLPA this evening.


Read more from our friends at Pro Football Talk.com.

NFL Owners Approve New CBA

NFL Owners have approved a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement this evening.  By a 31-0 vote, only the Oakland Raiders abstained, the owners have now left only an approval by the NFL Players Assocation to fully end the lockout.

The owners, in approving the CBA, made two conditions, stating that the players had to recertify as a union and that all remaining issues must be resolved by next week.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that team facilities could open Saturday and that the league year would start on Wednesday if the players approve the CBA.

The players were holding a conference call with all team reps Thursday evening.

Click here to read more from NFL.com.

NFL Lockout Talks Break Off

After two days of talks, the NFL owners and players have ended negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement and said negotiations will pick up again in June.

The two sides are currently in a lockout after the Court of Appeals granted the owners a stay this week.  The next appeal of that ruling will come June 3rd.  There does not appear to be any talks set to happen before that ruling is made.

Click here to read more from Pro Football Talk.

NFL Lockout News: Stay Granted - Breakthrough Made

A couple of big ticket news item regarding the NFL Lockout in day 62:

1)The Appeals Court has given the NFL Owners a stay so the lockout continues.

2)According to Pro Football Talk, a breakthrough has been made as players and owners resumed talks today. The owners made a new proposal and the players reportedly according to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN (citing Vikings great Carl Eller as his source) are encouraged by the proposal.

Stay tuned!