Everything appears to be coming up Milhouse in the NFL labor talks. Talks between players and owners picked up on the Maryland shore yesterday, and many are now reporting that a deal is either days or weeks away. Days or weeks, either one makes it likely that we'll be in the midst of a free agent frenzy, training camp and preseason football before you know it.
Labor optimism and some charitable doings by St. Louis Rams players dominate the links today...
NFL source: Labor negotiations 80-85 percent complete
Mike Freeman from CBSSports.com says a deal could happen soon, really, really soon. In fact, Freeman says the work is happening so fast that it's catching some players and owners off-guard, and some of the people involved believe a preliminary deal could be done in a matter of days, not weeks. There's a lot that has to happen between now and the season starting.
An agreement in principle will be the first step toward a new CBA
And what exactly does have to happen for a new CBA to get signed on the dotted line? First comes the agreement, then the lawyers write it up in legalese. Enter Judge Susan Nelson. Working with both sides, they determine the proper method to give notice and allow all parties to get the needed info for a fairness hearing. Then a vote by players to regroup as the NFLPA and approve the deal.
If You Want Football In St. Louis, You Better Get Rude Right Now
If #STLRams want the team to stay in St. Louis, they're going to get nasty. Quick. --
Banquet honors youth, community leaders
Rams DE George Selvie served as the honorary chairman for the sixth annual Scholarship and Community Awards Banquet sponsored by The Crescent Foundation and the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Team checklist: St. Louis Rams
Billy Devaney's to-do list, as envisioned by PFT. It's hard to think that these things aren't already on the Rams' GM's priority list, but they are worth repeating while we await the start of the free agent season.
Frazier sensed Sidney Rice was 'enthusiastic' about return
The Vikings' head coach seemed confident about WR Sidney RIce's return to the team in 2011. Maybe. But it's unlikely that Rice will be back before he tests the free agent market. Minnesota will have to spend big to keep him.