New England Patriots Links 7/22/11 - Today's The Day?

Eye on Football (CBS Sports) NFL owners vote to approve settlement.

"The clubs approved an agreement that was negotiated with the players this afternoon," Commissioner Roger Goodell said at his press conference following the vote. "In addition to approving that agreement we also approved a supplemental revenue sharing system for the next 10 years (with no opt-out by either the owners or players during that time).

"With this ratification and with the ratification of the NFLPA board, we will be prepared to open training facilities beginning on this Saturday. We will then be prepared to start the new league year Wednesday, subject to the full membership of the players, ratifying the agreement and recertifying as a union."

"Obviously, you know that we're all under a time constraint," Goodell said. "That's one of the reasons we worked to get this agreement completed tonight. We are unfortunately going to have to cancel the Hall of Fame Game this year. The time is just too short, and we feel it's important for all 32 teams to be operating with the same number of preseason games and also starting camp at the same date. … But the [Hall of Fame] ceremonies will go on."

"Once the ratification process has been completed, there would be a period where the players would come, you do their physicals, get your rosters in order," Pash said. 'Teams could begin signing their own players -- their draftees and the like -- with the contracts sort of being in a state of suspended animation. "What would you have is an opening of the new league year perhaps on next Wednesday, July 27."

LOCAL LINKS

• Tom E. Curran says now it's up to the players.
• Tom E. Curran reports the players don't want to re-form their union because they want to be able to sue the league and charge it with antitrust violations.
• Greg A. Bedard says the owners put pressure on the players to ratify the agreement but the players did not vote on it last night.
• Ron Borges reports the players are disputing the owners vote and De Smith claims the "deal" had come from the bottom of the deck.
• Steve Buckley says fans will return to the NFL with the usual and expected fervor.
• Mike Reiss serves up some leftovers from Thursday's weekly Patriots chat.
• Bob Ryan empties out the desk drawer of the sports mind.
• Tony Massarotti hits on an array of topics from the sports world.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Leigh Steinberg (Nat'l Football Post) The NFL's Oklahoma land rush is coming.

LABOR LUNACY

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Mort: Players vote expected on Friday.
• John Clayton (ESPN) Owners pressure players to deal.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Goodell, Smith need to take charge of the process and get the deal done.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA fears lawsuit from Vincent Jackson.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) De Smith shouldn't be surprised about new revenue sharing arrangement.
• Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) NFL team owners approve new CBA.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Owners vote would put public pressure on players.
• Brad Biggs (Nat'l Footbll Post) Players react negatively to power play by owners.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Players: Owners tried to slip items into CBA.