According to multiple reports, progress was made Saturday between owners and players as we await a vote from the NFLPA that would end the lockout and lead to the beginning of the league year. ESPN's Chris Mortensen and John Clayton reported that "major progress" occurred in today's talks between players and owners, and that they tentatively agreed to a plan that would allow for a Monday vote by the NFLPA that would recommend accepting the CBA and recertifying as a union. Recertification would be done by Friday in this plan. Players could report to camp as early as Wednesday to physically vote for recertification. NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that the league's labor committee had a conference call Saturday to update members on the process. Breer called it a "very productive day of talks," but sources told him no vote has been scheduled. The NFL Network also reported the league year could begin Wednesday, with training camps opening on Friday. Saturday morning, Chargers WR Vincent Jackson withdrew his claim for compensation, the last of the 10 plaintiffs to do so. The NFLPA executive committee first needs to approve the litigation settlement to the 10 plaintiffs to sign off on the terms of a new agreement, which would then end the lockout. Sourcefw
From espn... "Major breakthroughs in Saturday's discussions between NFL owners and players have set up a timetable for both sides to resolve their 130-day labor dispute, sources said. Owners tentatively agreed Saturday to a players-recommended plan for the NFL Players Association to bring players into team facilities starting as early as Wednesday to physically vote on whether to recertify the current trade association as a union, a source said. Progress in other talks with the owners has put the players' 11-member executive committee in a position to have a vote Monday to recommend accepting the 10-year collective bargaining agreement......." http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6796174/2011-nfl-lockout-nflpa-eyes-cba-vote-monday-recertification-vote-wednesday-source-says Everyone, myself included, got so worked up the other day when we thought it was done... I will believe it when I see it.
Between Revis last year and this cba shit this year I can only hope that whatever hold we deal with next year won't get everyone so worked up. This shit always goes to the 11th hour.
The whole ordeal has been a clusterfuck. The union executive disclaims interest then walks into a boardroom and works out a collective agreement on behalf of a bargaining unit they no longer represent...then 31 owners vote to ratify a collective agreement even though they are not technically negotiating with a union. Now, we are waiting for 1900 non-unionized players to ratify a collective agreement and then re-certify...cart before the horse anyone? It's a goddamn joke.
Sounds like free agency starts Wednesday and training camp starts on Friday (assuming nothing else goes wrong).
In addition to my last comment, it sounds like no free agent will be sign-able until next Saturday. (most of this info I'm getting off twitter so don't ask for links)
The Iggles interested in signing Bert. Jesus Christ, no... Not worth a thread, just thought you might want help gagging after all that beer.
The reports now are having the players actually sign their official reconstitution of the union at camp, which would open Wednesday, with the hope being by Friday they'd have enough signatures to officially open the league year on Saturday. Biggest takeaway from this seems to be (and correct me if I'm wrong) that there is now no 72-hour negotiating window for clubs to sign their own. It's all just gonna go down at once. Are you ready for some clusterfuck???!!!!
I thought the current timeline was players voting starting Monday, league opening Wednesday, signing of your own free agents starting Wednesday also, full free agency opens Saturday That was the last I heard, I'm probably wrong. Here's a link: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6797238/2011-nfl-lockout-owners-players-come-deal-all-points-sources-say
Okay got it. Thanks for clearing that up. I really hope we hear from Tanny on Monday or Tuesday (or any GM for that matter). It would be nice to get an explanation of the battle plan from somebody on the front lines.
I doubt you'll hear much of anything from anyone. They don't want to tip their hand on players they'd like to sign. It'll probably be a bunch of generic talk. "We want to keep as many of our current players as possible" will probably be a running theme.
