FOX Sports Exclusive
NFL players unanimously approve deal
NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith talks about approving the new CBA.
Share This Story
WASHINGTON
Some drizzle fell as the cloud known as the NFL’s four-month lockout was lifted.
A cross section of the NFL, including a handful of owners and players, gathered on the sidewalk in front of the National Football Players Association headquarters Monday afternoon to announce that the league’s contentious labor dispute, which began in March, had finally ended.
Minutes earlier, the NFLPA executive committee and then player representatives from the NFL's 32 clubs unanimously approved the terms of a 10-year collective bargaining agreement and to “recommend settlement” of the Brady v. NFL lawsuit filed by 10 players against the league.
Those plaintiffs — they included quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Petyon Manning — OK’d the deal, two people close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
“It’s a long time coming,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said after he shook hands with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. “Football is back, and that’s great news for everybody.”
The agreement — which won’t become fully ratified until a few more steps are taken — jump-starts a harried pace over the next several days that usually consumes an entire offseason:
• Tuesday: Teams open their facilities at 10 a.m. ET; trades can begin to take place; teams will be allowed sign rookies and begin to negotiate with their own free agents.
• Wednesday: The first 10 teams will be allowed to open training camp (camps are allowed to open 15 days before preseason game).
• Thursday: Clubs are able to waive or terminate player contracts starting at 4:01 p.m. ET.
• Friday: Clubs can begin to renegotiate contracts; clubs can sign players, but free agents are restricted from activity until the CBA is ratified.
“It’s going to be chaos,” said free-agent fullback Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA executive committee. “That’s the best word for it.
“Guys are excited to get back to work. The whole thing has been a big process. This is another step in that process. At the end of the day, we want get back out and play football.”
The CBA cannot be ratified until the NFLPA, currently considered a trade association, recertifies. Ballots already began going out to team representatives on Monday, and a simple majority of the league’s 1,900 players is needed to vote the union back into existence. After that happens, players will then vote to approve the CBA.
The league aims to have this process completed by Aug. 4, which will allow time for the Brady v. NFL suit to be settled in federal court and other issues, like a substance abuse policy, to be worked out.
“I don’t believe there is going to be a problem with the unity of players,” Smith said. “Going forward, we do have serious and critical issues to address.
“I think part of the good news is that we were a few blocks up in March (in front of a mediator), managed to talk about a lot of issues that make football better and safer. I think we have a little bit of a head start on those issues.”
More Stories From A.J. Perez
Trending Now
-
Wife dumps beer on husband at game
A Cubs fan doused her husband with a cold one Sunday afternoon in what appeared to be... -
Tiger: No plans for truce with Sergio
Tiger Woods spoke for some 20 minutes about the state of his game, belly putters, the... -
Ax to fall soon for LA's Mattingly
Gone tomorrow? With latest losses, I'm convinced Mattingly's tenure in LA will be ...
-
Celtics' Terrence Williams arrested
Kent police say Boston Celtics basketball player Terrence Williams was arrested Sunda... -
Hunter lawsuit proves NBA out for rich
Hunter's lawsuit against Fisher proves NBA puts rich before middle class.
NFL Videos
Billick: Eagles QB situation makes no sense
Posted: May 19, 2013
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones on the Eagles QB situation. Find out what Billick...
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones on the Eagles QB situation. Find out what Billick...
Te'o models game after Ray Lewis
Posted: May 19, 2013
Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o talks about emulating Ray Lewis on the field.
Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o talks about emulating Ray Lewis on the field.
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/800466/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800466_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - |
| Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Steelers/browse/featuredproduct/800489/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800489_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/801102/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801102_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/825450/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825450_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue |
| Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/825465/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825465_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
| Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/830781/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830781_xl.jpg&w=100 | 94.95 | Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/845755/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_845000/ff_845755_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange |
| Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Jacksonville_Jaguars/browse/featuredproduct/851602/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851602_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal |
| New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/853845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green |
| New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/853852/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853852_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.