As much as the NFL owners probably privately dislike and damn NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith he and the union are on the verge of getting a deal done with the owners on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The NFLPA's Executive Committee, which includes Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth, reportedly met for over five hours on Wednesday to go over the finer points of the new CBA.
Many people have privately and publicly criticized Smith as being the primary reason the lockout has gone on this long, but according to a story on The Roar, Smith played his cards in the best way to help the players he represents end up with the best possible deal they could have hoped for.
The NFL owners will meet as one 32-team group on Thursday morning to vote to agree to present this offer to the players, who are expected to accept the current deal on the table. NFL Commissioner has been noted as saying that the 75%, or 24 owners needed to approve the deal, will not be a difficult task. Although the team player reps have not voted on the offer, it seems that it will be a mere formality as the NFL Lockout should be over before week's end.
It will take a while to get all the aperwork done, but right now the teams are looking at a possible delay of only a few days in the opening of training cpamps around the league and the pre-season, much less the regular season, will not be affected as far as the schedule going on as planned, all to the collective exhale of pro football fans everywhere.