New York's Daily News is reporting that a new collective bargaining agreement to end the lockout has been submitted. The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) executive committee and player reps are currently on a conference call discussing the final ratification of the CBA, according to the NFL Network, and other things are also reportedly moving into focus.
Once the executive committee, which is meeting in Washington D.C., recommends the deal to its 32 player reps, they will in turn recommend the deal to the rest of the players. This entire process began on Monday at NFLPA headquarters in D.C.
If the deal is approved on Monday, clubs could start signing draft choices and rookie free agents on Tuesday. They could also begin talking to veteran free agents, although signings wouldn't begin until Friday at 6 p.m.
The lockout began on March 11 and has been in effect for 136 days. Owners voted 31-0-1 last week in Atlanta to ratify the deal. The players held off their vote, negotiations continued over the weekend and the final points were agreed to very early Monday morning.
This will put an end to the longest work stoppage in NFL history. It's about time. The thought of not having football was unnerving. Players deserve to have their needs met in addition to the owners. After all, it is the players with the shortened life expectancy because of playing in the league. We're glad that we can now safely resume cheering, coaching and yelling from our living rooms for our favorite teams.
Read more at the Daily News.
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