10-year deal nearly complete, and Bears to open camp Friday

SHARE 10-year deal nearly complete, and Bears to open camp Friday

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 will be finalized soon in a vote by players.

That, however, is expected to be a formality, and 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.

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.
Eileen O’Neill Burke is leading Clayton Harris III, 50.15% to 49.85%, a margin that changed only by hundredths of a percentage point, after city and suburban officials tallied more mail-in ballots Thursday.