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Players have approved deal with owners to end NFL lockout

 Representatives from the NFL's 32 teams voted unanimously to approve a new collective bargaining agreement after a lengthy conference call Monday afternoon.

The player reps approved the 10-year agreement after the executive committee, which met at the NFL Players Association headquarters, gave its approval. The CBA can’t fully be ratified until the NFLPA recertifies as a union, which will likely take place by Wednesday.

Starting Tuesday, however, teams will be able to sign their rookies and start negotiating with free agents. However, no free agents can be signed until Friday.

“Big smile! Footballs back, footballs back,” Domonique Foxworth, a member of the NFLPA's executive committee, posted on Twitter.

Owners decided in 2008 to opt out of the league's old labor contract, which expired March 11. That's when the owners locked out the players, creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.

NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith stepped outside of the group's headquarters in Washington at about 2 p.m. ET Monday to announce that players approved the pact.

"I know it has been a very long process since the day we stood here that night in March," Smith said. "But our guys stood together when nobody thought we would. And football is back because of it."


Moments later, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walked into the building, joined by owners Bob Kraft of the Patriots, John Mara of the New York Giants and Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers.

"I believe it's important that we talk about the future of football as a partnership," Smith said.
Under the proposed schedule, training camps would open for 10 of the 32 teams on Wednesday, 10 more on Thursday, another 10 on Friday, and the last two on Sunday.

Both sides set up informational conference calls for Monday afternoon to go over the details of the agreement. The NFLPA told player agents they would be coached in particular on the guidelines and schedule for signing free agents and rookies; the NFL alerted general managers and coaches they would be briefed in separate calls.