Proposed CBA to be Voted Upon

Lawyers for both the owners and players met over 8 hours Monday in New York including almost 4 with mediator U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.  Player’s association spokesman George Atallah will sit down with the players Wendseday and put the proposed CBA to a vote. Thursday in Atlanta the owners will do the same thing.  Each of the 32 teams will have their owner and another representative present at the owners meetings.

If the owners an players both approve of the proposal players can report to facilities as soon as Friday and league activities can begin Monday.  League wide free agency would begin July 25th and teams could try to resign current players beginning Friday.  The NFLPA would recertify if they reach an agreement on Wendseday.

A big part of the pending deal is increased retired player benefits amounting to almost $1 billion over the length of the ten year agreement.  This includes a legacy fund that will increase by $620 million over that time frame.

Talks will continue tomorrow morning, but both sides are extremely optimistic in a resolution coming this week.  Lawsuits and continued legation are in place in the even t that an agreement isn’t reached. Retired and current players have the suits in place that will be dropped in the event the CBA is agreed upon.  The only question is: “Is anyone ready for some football?”