Two people familiar with talks to end the NFL lockout tell The Associated Press that if an agreement is ratified by Thursday, team executives will be briefed starting that day on how the deal's terms affect league business.
Talks to end the NFL lockout will resume with the court-appointed mediator in New York on Monday and could continue through Thursday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Think back four months to that disappointing day in March when the NFL lockout began. The general opinion was the owners and players would reach a new labor agreement long before training camps opened.
Lawyers representing the NFL and the players' association are meeting in New York once again to clarify the language in a potential collective bargaining agreement.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday threw out a judge's order lifting the NFL lockout, possibly giving the league leverage in talks aimed at reaching a new labor deal.
Members of the NFL Players' Association executive board and team owners met for hours Thursday at a law firm in Manhattan, hoping another push could finally resolve the labor lockout that began in March.
Buffalo safety George Wilson likes what he sees and hears about the players' recent discussions with the owners to end the lockout. The Bills' player representative also cautions against getting swept away by expectations of an imminent settlement.