On Wednesday the players were expected to vote on the CBA, but didn't do it. The players have some obstacles in the way before the ratify the piece of NFL legislation.
The players have to vote on clearing past all lawsuits and settlements, such as Brady et al. vs. the NFL, then they have to agree to recertify as a union.
The players decertified in March as a move to sue the NFL at the beginning of this fiasco.
At 8 pm tonight the players are expected to hold a conference call where a vote could take place.
Keep in mind that DeMaurice Smith TKO'd all momentum today, when he said that there would not be a major announcement, and that recertifiy as a union is a big issue that has to be resolved.
Once the players recertifiy, if they do it today, tomorrow, or Saturday, then they can vote on the CBA.
"...the proposal will go to the 10 plaintiffs involved in the Brady antitrust case only if the league meets certain conditions in settling that piece of litigation, and also the TV rights fees case, in which players accused owners of setting up a $4 billion lockout-insurance fund.
The players also empowered Smith, their legal counsel and the 13-man executive committee to work out the remaining issues, according to sources. One is the players' pursuit of $320 million in benefits lost as part of the 2010 uncapped-year rules, which were negotiated in the 2006 labor deal.
Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have stayed in close, regular contact throughout negotiations, even at times when the parties weren't meeting. Throughout this week, for instance, Smith and Goodell have held after-hours discussions about the remaining issues, trying to bridge the remaining gaps and forge a global settlement, numerous sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
The good news is that, outside of a few minor issues, the players are amenable to terms that would serve as a new labor deal, should the NFLPA re-certify as a union. The Brady plantiffs -- which include quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees -- also would have to sign off for any settlement to be reached.
New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins and San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson, two of the 10 plaintiffs, are holding strong to their request for $10 million as part of the antitrust settlement, sources told Breer on Thursday. That's one of a number of issues that relate to the plaintiffs in that case." (NFL.com)
Mankins, Jackson and Manning want to get ride of the franchise tags that are keeping with their team without guaranteed contracts. While Manning wants a long term deal in Indianapolis, which he will likely get once the season resumes, Jackson and Mankins want out. They want to be free of their contracts and become free agents.
If the franchise tags are banned in the new CBA, players with the tag will become free agents. Jackson would then become the big free agent target at wide receiver, not Santonio Holmes of the Jets.
So there are still plenty of issues that have to be resolved before the day is over, but, yes, football will be back in a matter of days.
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