NFL owners and players were said to be on the verge of a deal
Tuesday night that could soon end the league’s lockout, but the
final details were still not completed by 9 p.m. EDT
Jonathan Tamari, The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA
NFL owners and players were said to be on the verge of a deal Tuesday night that could soon end the league’s lockout, but the final details were still not completed by 9 p.m. EDT.
Lawyers for the two sides were said to plan working into the night in the hopes of having a proposal to show the players’ executive committee Wednesday.
If the 32 team representatives recommend the deal Wednesday, a vote the same day is possible. Owners could then vote on a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday when they meet in Atlanta, a move which would end the lockout that began March 12.
But first, the final details must be ironed out and the NFL Players Association’s executive committee must approve of them before an agreement can move forward to full votes.
If the players and owners approve the deal by Thursday, players could begin reporting back to team facilities within days and the first stages of free agency could start soon after. A deal in that time frame would almost certainly allow the Eagles to hold training camp at their traditional site, Lehigh University in Bethlehem.
The team typically begins camp in late July, and while no date has been set so far, tents and stands have reportedly begun going up at Lehigh.
One final detail is satisfying the 10 players who are suing the league on antitrust grounds.
Some of those plaintiffs have sought assurances that they could become free agents, or receive a payment to help make up for free agency restrictions last year, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Guard Logan Mankins and wide receiver Vincent Jackson wanted assurances they could become unrestricted free agents or receive $10 million each, according to a Yahoo! Sports report, though ESPN reported that Mankins had not made any specific financial demands.
Fellow plaintiffs Peyton Manning and Drew Brees wanted exemptions from the franchise tag, according to the Boston Globe. The quarterbacks’ agent, Tom Condon, denied they had asked for anything individually, ESPN reported.
Mankins and Jackson would each have been free agents last season, but were restricted because of a collective bargaining quirk. Each sat out part of the season and earned far less than they might have if they had been free agents. They have each been designated franchise players, as has Manning.
Brees is due to reach free agency after this season, but could also be hit with the tag, which prevents players from reaching the open market.
The plaintiffs have significant influence over the settlement talks. They must each agree to drop their lawsuit for a deal to be completed.
“I want no special perks. My job is to get a fair deal for all players — past, present and future,” Brees wrote on Twitter. “All media claims about me wanting a personal reward for this deal are false. I hope you all know me better than that.”
Plaintiffs in the players’ 1993 antitrust suit against the NFL won exemptions from the franchise tag.
