Lockout Winding Down; Where It Stands

There are so many reports about the NFL lockout being close to coming to an end.  ESPN.com has an excellent recap of where things stand right now.

• The new deal will be for 10 years.
• Owners and players will return to the negotiating table in a mediation setting on Monday and Tuesday to settle a handful of unresolved issues.
• The owners could ratify the new CBA on Thursday at the league meetings in Atlanta.

When would the season start?  According to Chris Mortenson, it would be on time.

• League-wide free agency would start on 7/25.
• Teams would have a 72 hour window leading up to 7/25 to sign their own free agents.

What changes would be made to training camp and off-season workouts?

• One key concession made by the owners will effectively eliminate two-a-day practices during training camp as a health and safety issue that players termed critical to an agreement, the sources said.
• Teams will be allowed to have some helmetless and padless non-contact walk-through practices in lieu of a second training camp practice on the same day.
• Teams will also reduce offseason workouts from 14 on-field organized team activities (practices) to nine. Six of those nine practices must be helmetless.