If you’ve been clinging to hope, and your NFL tickets, it may be time to jump for joy. News is out today that the Big Three of the NFL, namely Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, Payton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, has collectively declared that it’s time to settle things. Here is their statement:
“We believe the overall proposal made by the players is fair for both sides and it is time to get this deal done.”
Now, how this differs from what they’ve been saying all along I don’t know. But I do believe that the tone of negotiations has changed from an endless discussion of how the other side is wrong, to an actual discussion of how the nuts and bolts of the agreement will actually work. The NFL preseason is looming, the NFL Hall of Fame Game is in danger, and NFL camps are set to open soon. Nobody wants to give up any piece of this $9 billion pie it seems, so look for things to speed up very quickly from here on out. Especially with Manning, Brady, and Brees calling the shots.