Bears open training camp Friday as NFL deal is finalized
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com July 25, 2011 11:52AM
Updated: July 25, 2011 10:47PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NFL players and owners agreed to terms on a 10-year deal in the wee hours of Monday morning, and the pact was finalized Monday afternoon.
Clubs will scramble to start business -- months worth -- Tuesday.
The Bears, meanwhile, are among the teams that will open training camp Friday. Players are expected to report Thursday to Bourbonnais.
Player reps and NFLPA executive committee members started a conference call at 11 a.m. EST. Agents were informed that there would be a conference call to brief them on rules today at 2 p.m.
Among the key points of the deal:
* There is no opt out clause, which players had been pushing for. That means this is a hard 10-year labor deal.
* Clubs will be able to start talking to free agents and sign rookies and undrafted free agents starting Tuesday.
* Clubs can release veterans starting Wednesday, which could be awkward since some teams will open camp Wednesday.
More to come throughout the day.
