It was announced around 3 a.m. this morning that the NFL owners and NFLPA have agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that should signal labor peace for the next ten years. Once players complete the formal vote and re-certification of the union, the labor unrest will be quickly forgotten and there will be a full, unaltered 2011 season.
Doors to team facilities are scheduled to open Tuesday morning, when teams can re-sign their own free agents and negotiate with other free agents, although they cannot sign them until Saturday. In addition, Training Camps will begin opening Wednesday around the league, although it is not clear exactly what day the Baltimore Ravens will open their camp t their Owings Mills Practice Facility.
The only casualty to the labor unrest will end up being the Pro Football Hall of Fame game, but not too many will lose any sleep over this. The moving of Training Camp for the Ravens from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland to their private facility is a sad decision, which the team had no other choice but plans are in the works to hold at least one open practice at M&T Bank Stadium that will be free to the public.
Are you NOW ready for some football!?