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.