OK, before I get into this piece about the upcoming start of free agency and the end of the NFL's longest work stoppage in history, just a few personal updates. For those of you on Facebook (thanks, Carol...I think?), I was struck in the face with an aluminum softball bat while playing catcher on Sunday. I needed 9 stitches to close the cut. I am fine and no worse for wear, but I'll have a nice shiner for a few days after I get the stitches out on Friday. This was the first time in my life that I ever needed stitches, and it was a little scary for a little bit there, but thanks for all of the encouragement over the last 36 hours.
Alright, onto the featured article of the day. IT'S OVER!!!!!! Yes, after a 132 day stalemate, the players executive committee ratified unanimously the CBA approved by the owners on Thursday. With that approval, the NFL lifted the lockout immediately, opening team facilities to the league's 1900 players. The league has posted a timeline for when certain events that occur over the course of an entire offseason can occur in the span of 1 week. The Hall of Fame Game will be the only casualty of the preseason. Every other preseason game will go on as scheduled. Here's how it will go down:
Today-Facilities open to players. Teams can negotiate with, but not sign, veteran free agents. Teams can sign draft picks and undrated rookies.
Wednesday through Sunday-Training camps can open for teams 15 days before their first preseason game. 10 teams each open Wednesday through Friday, 2 on Sunday. The Redskins open on Thursday.
Friday-Teams can begin signing free agents starting at 6PM.
August 4-League-imposed deadline for the NFLPA to recertify as a union and ratify the CBA.
September 4-Menace II Sobriety Fantasy Football League Draft
September 8-Opening match of the NFL Season between Saints and Packers
A very important date on that calendar is August 4, a week from Thursday. By then camps will have long since opened, but at this moment, the NFLPA is still not a union. One of the last minute concessions by the owners was to allow the league year to start without formal recertification. There are still several outstanding issues that legally cannot be agreed upon in a CBA so long as the NFLPA is not a union. This include things like drug testing, player safety rules, etc. They say that formal recertification is just a formality. Emphasis on that they say.....
Assuming that the August 4 day comes and goes quietly, the next week will be a 3-ring circus of transaction activities that ordinarily take place over the course of 5 months. Some potential trades to keep an eye on will be what the Eagles do with Kevin Kolb. Rumor has it that he's destined for Arizona. Santonio Holmes is a very attractive free agent for teams like the Redskins...who always seem to have the money to pay for them.
Some highlights of the deal for you:
-Rosters expand to 90 players in camp. Veterans don't really like this because there is more competition for jobs.
-Rookie contracts are limited to 4 years, with a club option for a 5th on 1st round picks only. Salaries compared to past years will be slashed for first round picks especially
-There is no prospect of an expanded season until at least 2013, and only with union approval
-The owners get 53% of the revenue pool, but that does not include any credits off the top for capital projects. Players will never get less than 46% of the revenue pool at any point over the course of the CBA.
-Neither side has an opt out, meaning that there will be labor peace for at least 10 years.
Stay tuned with Caputo's Corner for all of your abbreviated NFL offseason action. This will be the last post I will make with the tag "lockout" on it. Football is back. Let's all move on with our lives!
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