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.

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 Take A Step Backwards

Just when it appeared that the NFL and NFL Players Association were getting closer to striking a deal, the talks took a wrong turn. The talks regressed to the point that the hearing was described as "close to blowing up" by those who attended.

Lawyers from both sides were brought in for these talks, which many interpreted as a sign that a deal could be close. However, after further failed negotiations, NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith instructed his lawyers to "stand down." Unfortunately for the public, the content of these discussions remains private, which means we are still left in the dark in regards to what really goes on in these meetings.

This latest development pretty much sums up the NFL lockout: just when NFL fans receive some good news, bad news immediately follows. The back and forth characteristics have grown increasingly frustrating with the regular season getting closer and closer. The lesson here? Don't get your hopes up until a deal has been reached and the ink is dry.

NFL Prepares for 8 Game Season

With the NFL lockout in full swing and no end in sight, the league's officials have begun planning an alternative eight game schedule for the 2011 regular season. The NFL has not had a shortened season since 1987 - the last time the league suffered a work stoppage.

The league's current plan for this new eight game format is to have games start in November; if a settlement occured in October, the league would still have time for a free agency period, training camp and eight games. The league took previous measures to prepare for a late start, designing a schedule that could drop bye weeks and the week before the superbowl and still play all 16 games.

It remains unknown how this shortened season would play out. It remains likely that teams will still play all six interdivision games, and the remaining two games would be decided later. This format obviously helps teams in a weak division tremendously.

The league remains adamant that its focus is on a full 16 game regular season, but it isn't a bad idea to start drawing up a plan B. After all, some football is better than no football.

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 Schedule Allows Room to Make Up Missed Games

With the possibility of a lockout next season, the NFL has crafted a schedule in which there could be no games during the first three weeks of the season yet all 16 regular season games could be played. With a lockout looming as a strong possibility, this is a very smart move by the NFL to keep fans optimistic while negotiations continue.

Every game in week three features teams that share the same bye week later in the season. This allows teams to make up a missed week three during what would have been their bye week later on in the year. The league could also skip the week off between the conference championships and the superbowl, while also playing the superbowl a week later than normal. To be safe, the NFL has booked hotel rooms in Indianapolis (the site of next season's superbowl) for two weeks, in case the championship does get pushed back a week.

The regular season is scheduled to kick off September 8 with the Packers hosting the Saints. With the wrinkles in the schedule, the season's start could be delayed until October 2nd and still end February 12. Not bad at all. Kudos to the NFL for drafting an emergency plan and trying to give fans as much football as possible.

Retired Players Try To End NFL Lockout

A new twist has emerged in the battle between NFL owners and players that could potentially eliminate next season's lockout. Four retired NFL players, including former Chief’s running back Priest Holmes, filed a federal class action, antitrust lawsuit against the NFL on Monday. These players hope their actions will break the NFL lockout.

One big development in this suit is the inclusion of draft-eligible prospects. College players awaiting next month’s draft are not represented by the union, and therefore cannot be held accountable for its decertification. However, the NFL lockout is affecting these players, and the suit argues that it is rediculous to hold a draft in April and then lockout the players drafted.

The suit appears to be in good hands, as it is led by attorney Michael Hausfeld of the Washington D.C.-based Hausfeld LLC. Hausfeld has a history of winning complicated cases such as this one, and could possible force the NFL owners into a corner. It is good to see that for the time being, there is some hope for an end to the lockout.

What the Chiefs can Learn From The Packers

The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl as Chiefs' fans, players and coaches watched from home, victims of a playoff loss to the Ravens in the wild card round. While the Chiefs are still in a rebuilding mode and just making the playoffs was a huge step forward, the NFL is about winning titles, and the Chiefs could learn a few things from the champion Packers in Kansas City's hunt for a title. The Packers are champions due to three critical components: A team built from the draft, a stout defense that keeps it in every game and an elite quarterback. Lets see how the Chiefs stack up in all three categories.

The Packers draft well year after year, and the result has been a sustained period of success for the green and gold. The Packers draft well in all seven rounds, which has helped the team register a winning season in all but two campaigns in the last 20 years. When the Packers took the field on Sunday, 18 of the team's 21 players had been drafted and groomed by Green Bay. The ability to mold players into your system from the time they enter the league is critical in the NFL, and while the Chiefs had a fantastic draft last year, they still have some work to do after a few lackluster efforts in the past five years. Pioli and co. had a good start last year, but it will be important for the Chiefs to continue to build through the draft to sustain the success it started this year.

The Packers defense has been great all year, and despite losing future hall of fame CB Charles Woodson in the first half, held the Steelers off just enough to help the Packers get the win. You need a defense that will keep you in the game even when the offense stalls, and Green Bay had this all season long. This is where Kansas City has made huge strides, and better yet, the Chiefs defense is very young.

The final reason the Packers are champs is simple: Aaron Rodgers has morphed into one of the deadliest QBs in the league in three seasons as a starter. Matt Cassel had a very good season this year, but failed to play well in some of the Chiefs' biggest moments. The list of recent super bowl winning QBs is a whos-who of the NFL's best: Rodgers, Brees, Roethlisberger, Manning, Brady, etc. A QB needs a good WR corps to be successful, and the Chiefs still need a lot of help at this position. With one of the league's top rushing attacks, the Chiefs offense has the ability to be potent, but until Cassel and his WRs turn into among the league's best, the Chiefs will be unable to win football's biggest prize.

NFL's Move to an 18 Game Schedule Unfair to Players

By now, most if not all NFL fans have heard of the possible lockout looming for the 2011-2012 season. With the owners likely to force a lockout to gain a more favorable contract, it seems rediculous that they would then force their players to play more games that matter.

Personally, I would love to see the NFL's regular season extend to 18 games. I am a diehard football fan and the more games that matter, the better. Four preseason games seems a bit too much, especially considering that the majority of these games feature backups and players most fans will never see during the regular season. Two more regular season games shortens an already-too-long preseason, will generate more revenue and give me two more Sundays of NFL.

Only problem is, this new format pushed by the owners is hyprocritical given their stance on the labor dispute. To put it simply, the owners want players to make less money and play more regular season games. I know most NFL players live comfortably, but asking a player to risk injury two more times in the regular season with lessl long-term guarantees is unfair.

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