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.

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.

POWERFUL - Herm Edwards talks at NFLPA Rookie Symposium

Herm is simply awesome! If these NFL rookies can't get excited and learn from Herm Edwards, there's something wrong with them.



Thanks to ESPN/NFLPA for the video.