The Crazy Newshound has found a new Ravens article.

The NFL Players Association executive board and 32 team reps have voted unanimously to approve the terms of a deal to the end the 4½-month lockout.

Owners overwhelmingly approved a proposal last week, but some unresolved issues still needed to be reviewed to satisfy players; the owners do not need to vote again.

The sides worked through the weekend and wrapped up the details Monday morning on a final pact that is for 10 years, without an opt-out clause, a person familiar with the deal told the AP.

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

Under that tentative schedule, training camps would open for 10 of the 32 teams on Wednesday, 10 teams on Thursday, another 10 teams on Friday, and the last two teams on Sunday.

The Ravens are one of the teams that will start training camp on Wednesday, 15 days before the first exhibition game set for August 11 in Philadelphia.

â??This is a good day for the NFL, all of its members and fans of our league. I congratulate the Commissioner (Roger Goodell) and the Players Association leadership for reaching this agreement," said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

"Weâ??re excited to have the players coming back to our facility in Owings Mills, and we know the coaches are chomping at the bit to get the team ready for the season. I salute our Ravens players for the way they handled this process, particularly Domonique Foxworth, who was instrumental in getting this agreement completed."

The major economic framework for the deal was worked out more than a week ago.

That included how the more than $9 billion in annual league revenues will be divided (about 53 percent to owners and 47 percent to players over the next decade; the old CBA resulted in nearly a 50-50 split); a per-club cap of about $120 million for salary and bonuses in 2011 - and at least that in 2012 and 2013 - plus about $22 million for benefits; a salary system to rein in spending on first-round draft picks; and unrestricted free agency for most players after four seasons.

Should the players' executive committee vote to accept the deal, it then would go to the 32 team representatives to approve, perhaps later Monday. After that, the total membership would need to vote, with a simple majority required for passage.

The 10 named plaintiffs in the players' lawsuit against the league - including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees - must officially inform the court in Minneapolis of their approval of the pact, too.

Statement from Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti

â??This is a good day for the NFL, all of its members and fans of our league. I congratulate the Commissioner (Roger Goodell) and the Players Association leadership for reaching this agreement. Weâ??re excited to have the players coming back to our facility in Owings Mills, and we know the coaches are chomping at the bit to get the team ready for the season. I salute our Ravens players for the way they handled this process, particularly Domonique Foxworth, who was instrumental in getting this agreement completed.

â??We want to thank our business partners, suiteholders and season ticket holders for sticking with us during the lockout. Your faith and financial support in us is greatly appreciated. Iâ??d also like to give a salute to members of our Ravens family, who continued to work hard and be productive in recent months. Weâ??ll be ready for training camp and the season. Itâ??s time for football.â??


With the players ratifying an agreement Monday to end the NFL lockout, the league gets back to business this week. It's a frantic schedule as everyone crams months of work into a few days.

The upcoming league schedule, according to the NFL: MONDAY

-Free agent lists will be distributed to teams. TUESDAY

-Players can report to team facilities for physicals, meetings and to receive playbooks.

-Teams can start signing 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents. They also can begin making trades.

-Conversations between clubs and veteran free agents from all teams can start Tuesday, but no signings can occur until Friday. There will be no window for teams to negotiate exclusively with their own veteran free agents. WEDNESDAY

-Training camps open for 10 of the 32 teams: Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, New England, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego and Seattle. THURSDAY

-Camps open for Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Washington.

-Teams can waive or cut players. FRIDAY

-Camps open for Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New York Giants, St. Louis and Tennessee.

-Teams can begin signing free agents and renegotiated contracts. Signed players will be prohibited from physical activity until a CBA is ratified.

-Signed rookies may participate in camp and have health protection if injured. SATURDAY

-Camps open for New York Jets and Houston. AUG. 4

-The league year begins if the CBA has been ratified by the NFLPA, which must first re-establish itself as a union.

-All clubs must be under the salary cap. AUG. 11

First preseason game, with Seattle at San Diego.



Link to the full story.]