National Football League

Report: Progress on NFL rookie wages

Published Jul. 14, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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The major players in the NFL labor talks gathered for the second straight day in New York Thursday hopeful that the last major issue -- a new rookie salary structure -- could be resolved so that the owners can vote on a new collective bargaining agreement next week at a scheduled meeting in Atlanta.

According to NFL.com, there was significant progress on the rookie wage scale, which is said to be the last remaining issue standing in the way of an agreement in principle. ESPN and SI.com also reported progress was made on rookie salaries.

Several reports indicated a fifth-year option may be part of the rookie wage agreement and that both sides had virtually resolved the wage scale issue for incoming college players.

The NFL's hope is that the owners will gather in Atlanta July 21 with an agreement ready to be voted on.

Eight of the 10 owners that make up the labor committee were in attendance Thursday, along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy and San Diego Chargers president Dean Spanos arrived after not being present at most of the earlier negotiations.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith was flanked by the usual group of current and former players, including Jeff Saturday, Domonique Foxworth and Pete Kendall.

The sides have reportedly come to terms on how to split up the league's billions in annual revenue, which had been the top issue during the four-month-old lockout.

Talks were only scheduled through Thursday, but NFL.com reported the discussions could stretch into the weekend if the sides feel they are headed toward a deal.

A meeting with US Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan is scheduled for Tuesday. If an agreement has been reached, the sides hope the meeting will be used to resolve the players' antitrust lawsuit against the owners.

The NFL preseason is scheduled to begin Aug. 7 with the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams playing in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The two teams were scheduled to open their training camps July 22.

No decision has been made on whether the game, which comes the day after the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, will be played.

Another issue under negotiation is how free agency will be conducted once a deal is reached.
 

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