NFL Players Expected to Vote on New CBA

Added on Jul 20, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

There appears to be a sliver of light at the end of the long, dark tunnel that is the NFL labor dispute. Player representatives from all 32 teams are gathering today in Washington D.C. to review a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and are expected to vote sometime within the next two days on whether to accept the deal hammered out over the past five months.

If a majority of players sign off on the settlement, the union would likely be recertified, clearing the path for a return to normalcy. However, even if the players okay the deal, the owners still need to conduct their own vote, which they will presumably do while meeting in Atlanta on Thursday for their annual rich guy pow-wow. It takes 24 of 32 votes to ratify a new CBA.

That’s the good news. The bad news is we could be in store for more delays if either or both sides have issues with the nomenclature. NFLPA President Kevin Mawae warned media and fans not to pop the champagne bottles just yet.

“Our goal today is to see what’s on the table,” Mawae said. “Make no mistake, the players are not in a rush and are not tied to the timeline of July 21 (Thursday). Our timeline is the timeline that gets the best deal for the players… Whether it’s today or tomorrow, we’re not going to agree to any deal unless it’s the right deal.”

So, until the ink is dry, it’s the same old song and dance. The lockout could end soon, or it could drag on for another week. Let’s cross our fingers it’s the former because the quality of the 2011 season is already in jeopardy due to six months of inactivity. If training camp dates start getting pushed back, a whole other can of worms will be opened.

One thing is certain: once the CBA is ratified, six weeks of pure insanity will follow as teams scurry to sign free agents/ draft picks, make trades and open camps. Leave it to the NFL to keep things exciting.

Source: NFL.com