CBA:Just throwing out the latest speculation

[DKphin]

A new collective bargaining agreement could be in place and ratified during the July 21 league meetings, ESPN reported Monday morning. This comes on the heels of another report Sunday that the two sides are "in really good shape" and that they're down to "one main issue … the rookie wage scale."

One NFL owner told ESPN over the weekend that there's "no reason to believe [the deal] won't get done." The thinking is that a handshake agreement will be put in place in the next seven to 10 days allowing each side to ratify it and start the 2011 season.

UPDATE (9:45 a.m. ET): ESPN has added the following paragraph to its original report: "However, one member of the players' negotiating team who has been a constant presence at the table said that players feel they have made significant concessions and overtures "that have not been reciprocated."

One issue with the July 21 ratification date: for weeks we've heard that if an agreement wasn't in place by July 15, free agency and training camps could be delayed, and preseason games could be lost, which would cost the owners and players anywhere from $200-$800 million.

http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/30583902

 

[datruth55]

If ratified July 21st I don't know if the Hall of Fame game gets played. Bears and Rams, who play the game, are suppose to open camp on the 23rd but I don't know if they will have enough time to get all their ducks in a row without risking injury to players. It will be a game where the starters probably play one series and sit, heck the backups may only play a series and sit.