NFL Lockout Officially Over

Finally, the news NFL fans have been waiting to here. After months of negotiations, various setbacks and false hope, the lockout is over. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that the players voted to OK a deal that had been previously approved by the owners, stating simply that "football is back."

The lockout lasted roughly four and a half months, marking the longest work-stoppage in the league's history. While both sides were forced to make sacrifices, the owners and players decided on what appears to be a good deal for all parties. The owners got a higher percentage of league revenue, while the players made sure teams will spend almost all of their cap space and received some improved safety regulations.

Technically, teams will be able to make trades and talk to veteran free agents tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., however players cannot sign with a new team until Friday. The Chiefs will report to training camp on Thursday.

NFL Eyes July 21 As Potential End Of Lockout

Sources indicate that the NFL and NFL Players Association are nearing a deal that would bring an end to the 2011 lockout. The common belief is that a deal will be in place and will be ratified during the July 21 league meetings.

Other sources believe that a deal will be reached between the NFL and NFLPA during the next week or so. One of the owners who has been present during the talks has been quoted as saying there is "no reason to believe it won't get done."

Despite a possible finish line in sight, there are still several key issues that the NFL and NFLPA must workout before a deal can be reached. One subject that could prolong the negotiations is that of rookie salaries and contracts. If an agreement is reached on July 21, every team will be able to play all of its preseason games. The only game that would be in danger of being canceled is the Hall of Fame Game on August 7.

Courts Rule in Favor of NFL, Deem Lockout Legal

Earlier this week, it appeared that the NFL lockout may soon be coming to an end. While negotiations have continued this week in New York, the 8th curcuit courts recently ruled in favor of the NFL, deeming that the lockout is indeed legal.

The decision came fresh off the news that Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith have started a second day of negotiations in New York. The ruling was not a surprise to both the owners and the players, as previous court decisions have often ended the same way regarding cases similar to the 2011 lockout.

While the news caught both the players and owners off guard, the ruling is not expected to be a factor in the present negotiations. Sources say that both parties feel an agreement is close to being reached, although we still do not know when that will be. While an agreement for how the revenue split should be settled appears close, there is still a lot of work to be done in regards to the new free agency rules. Progress is being made, but it appears that a decision is likely a few weeks away.

NFL Lockout May End Soon

The NFL owners and the NFL Players Association continued their talks today in New York in hopes of ending the lockout, however there has been a great deal of optimism surrounding these discussions. Reports indicate that the lawyers on both sides are meeting to discuss the language of a potential agreement, which indicates the lockout could end soon.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, sources believe that an agreement is within reach, however this would likely not be completed until next week at the earliest. Today marks the 112 day of the lockout.

In similar news, the NFL hall of fame announced that it still plans on hosting the league's first preseason game on August 7 between the Bears and Rams. To make the August 7 date, both teams would likely need to begin training camp sometime in the next two weeks. Despite the small window of time, both the Bears and Rams have told the hall of fame they plan on participating.

NFL Lockout Talks Resume

After the last discussions between NFL owners and players took a step backwards, talks have reportedly resumed. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith have been joined by several owners and players in hopes of ending the lockout.

The group will be meeting at a law firm located in Minneapolis. Some of the more well-known participants include Colts center Jeff Saturday and Giants owner John Mara. These will be the fifth set of "secret" talks between the owners and players. The talks are only scheduled to take place today, but could also extend into Friday if both groups feel it is neccessary.

While reports on how much progress the players and owners have made varies, both sides appear to be running out of time to get something done. Training camps are scheduled to open in three weeks, and the Hall of Fame Game is August 7.

NFL, Players Resume Talks

The NFL and NFL Players Association met earlier today in Washington D.C., with hopes of moving forward in their talks to end the lockout. Sources described both groups as being in "deal-making moods," which could be a positive sign that the the 2011 NFL season will start on time.

This is the third consecutive week that the two sides have had "secret" talks in hopes of ending the lockout. The major subject of discussion this week is the amount of the revenue that will go to the players; the NFLPA has reportedly asked for 50% of the revenue.

One major positive sign from these talks is that lawyers were present for both sides. The presence of lawyers could signal that the talks are becoming more serious, and that some sort of agreement could be reached soon. At the very least, both sides appear to be trying to find a middle ground, which is good news for every NFL fan.

There is a possibility that talks could continue into Wednesday or longer. It is unclear why the NFL has prepared to extend the meetings, but more details could come from the extended negotiations.

Judge Ends NFL Lockout

U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson ruled in favor of the NFL players yesterday, ending the lockout. While this was a huge victory for the players in their war with NFL owners on how to split over $9 billion in revenue, there is still no promise for an NFL season in 2011. NFL owners plan on appealing Judge Nelson's ruling.

Nelson's ruling wasn't much of a surprise - players have historically come out better anytime they have battled a group of owners in court over a labor dispute. Nelson ruled that players will be harshly affected by a lockout, and that many already are feeling the effects from the work stoppage.

The NFL players had slowly gained the upper hand throughout the lockout process, and Judge Nelson's ruling only gave the side more power. There is still a lot of legal anecdotes to work out, but this ruling has to make fans more optimistic that NFL football will be played in 2011. What comes out of the owners' appeal will likely be a sign to how close (or far away) this is from being over.

NFL Draft Round One - Will Kansas City Select a Defensive Lineman?

With the 2011 NFL draft fast approaching, the Chiefs are running out of time to evaluate the team's needs and formulate a strategy. Unlike recent years, the Chiefs will not be one of the first teams selecting a player, which makes it harder to predict what direction Kansas City will go with the 21st pick.

Many analysts predict the Chiefs will take a defensive lineman, and one name floating around the internet is Muhammed Wilkerson. The former Temple star will likely be around when the Chiefs make their pick, and has been noted for his run stopping ability. Kansas City already has a pass rush specialist at OLD in Tamba Hali, so improving a run defense that struggled at times makes sense.

Sports Illustrated has also bought into the idea of Kansas City adding a defensive lineman, predicting that the Chiefs will grab DT Stephen Paea of Oregon State. Paea had a monster combine and would provide a boost. Another DT SI mentions as a possibility for Kansas City is Illinois' Corey Liuget. The team has struggled to find a playmaker on the defensive line, as Tyson Jackson has underperformed early and often in his career. The Chiefs may yet again draft a defensive lineman with its first round pick, despite addressing this area several times recently.

Kansas City has several needs, so it will likely grab the best talent it can get rather than reach for someone to address a specific weakness. If a talented defensive lineman is on the board, don't be surprised if the Chiefs grab one in hopes that its 3-4 defense will continue to make strides in 2011.

New Twists to NFL Labor Talks

The NFL Labor Talks have had several new recent developments which provide some hope that we will have professional football next season. Late yesterday, both sides agreed on a 24 hour extention, which extends the deadline and could also be a sign that a middle ground is becoming more of a reality between the players and owners.

It appears as if the players' union has gained the upper hand in the talks at the moment. It is now being reported that Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are now backing the NFL Players Association's DeMaurice Smith, an unexpected and somewhat shocking move. Star players almost never side with the NFLPA, and this can only help Smith's side gain more leverage.

The owners are becomming increasingly more disorganized, and are also growing frustrated with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his inability to take immediate action. Goodell has frequently urged the owners not to let this dispute go to court, as the owners have historically come up short when these disputes are settled with legal action. Hopefully a new collective bargaining argeement can be reached soon, as both sides continue to negotiated.