This past Thursday the NFL took one step closer to ending the lockout as the vote to ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was passed by owners and now the fate of the future of football is in the hands of the players. Despite the owners finally agreeing upon a new CBA, the players might not be as agreeable as it is rumored that many of the players are not happy about the new deal that the owners have given them.

With that being said, the NFL lockout might continue a bit longer, but now the fate of the league and how soon football will get underway is up to the players. This move may make the players the enemy in the NFL lockout as the fans could start to turn on them if they don’t agree on this new deal and pass the vote, but at least this lockout seems to be nearing the end.

Now that the NFL owners have made the first move and agreed on a ratified CBA, there are few dates that will be important over the next couple of weeks:

July 23

-Waivers will begin for 2011-2012 season.

-Teams and players can renegotiate contracts.

-Teams can sign drafted rookies and their free agents.

July 24

-Teams can sign undrafted rookie free agents.

July 27

-The 2011-2012 league year will officially begin pending the players have ratified the CBA.

-Free agency begins. This is when the madness will begin as every team in the league will be scrambling to sign players from a very talented and stacked free agent market.

-Trade can be made.

-Training camps open for all 32 teams in the NFL.

The next two weeks will be very interesting to say the least if the NFLPA (players) pass the vote on the new CBA.

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