Adamn Schefter tweeted:

Named plaintiff Vincent Jackson now is willing to release his claim without compensation – meaning no money or lifting of the franchise tag.

Many media outlets reported earlier this week that fellow franchised player, Logan Mankins, would not hold up the lockout either.  It was insinuated that Jackson would.  Now that Brady V. NFL is settled, will we see Jackson V. NFL?

As the news comes in fast and furious, we will be reporting on it.

There is a reason we didn’t cover the lockout and that is because it’s pointless.  At the end of the day these guys get paid a king’s ransom to play a child’s game.  Yes they out their bodies on the line for our entertainment but they know that they will get hurt going in, and collect checks larger than most people’s yearly salary every week for doing so.  It’s hard to feel bad for these guys and their billionaire employers.  That would be the equivalent of Donald Trump asking me to borrow a twenty because he just filed bankruptcy for the 10th time.

But here are the details per Adam Schefter:

Filed to ESPN: Latest timeline for getting NFL back in business – subject to approval by the NFLPA. Here are the details…

Teams can sign their free agents this afternoon. Teams can begin talking to UFAs this afternoon. Teams can sign UFAs tomorrow at noon.

Teams can begin talking trades this afternoon. Any trade made would not become official until Saturday.

Teams can begin talking trades this afternoon. Any trade made would not become official until Saturday.

Teams can begin talking trades this afternoon. Any trade made would not become official until Saturday.

(Adam Schefter)

According to various reports from ESPN, there is now a rookie wage scale for NFL Draft selections, 16 games, and more pad less workouts in the new CBA.  However one thing that is unresolved is the status of franchised players such as Vincent Jackson of the Chargers and Logan Mankins of the Patriots.  Both players are extremely upset they have been franchised multiple years without an extension.  There are also reports that their lawyers may be seeking $10 million dollars in compensation if the players are not allowed to become unrestricted free agents under the new CBA.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson is in the same boat as Mankins, and that the two men have made specific requests to the league: They either want to be declared free agents, or they want $10 million for last season.

Source: PFT

All in all, look for the CBA to be done before August, with a four day free agent frenzy, then a slide into preseason.  The NFL is probably going to do something to compensate Jackson and Mankins to get on with the show.

So while thinking about what may happen when the lockout is eventually lifted, a topic that definitely needs to be accessed is the free agent situation.  Especially when looking at the 2012 NFL Draft, you have to put in perspective which teams are going to fill their needs via free agency.

Barring anything crazy happening, I am going to assume top flight players like Michael Vick and Peyton Manning won’t hit the free market.  So here who is going to be available in 2011:

Quarterbacks

• Matt Hasselbeck
• Marc Bulger

Prediction: Hasselbeck eventually gets his asking price with the Seahawks.  Marc Bulger becomes a Dolphin or a 49er to man the ship for the young Qbs there.

Runningbacks

• De’Angelo Williams
• Darren Sproles
• Ronnie Brown
• Ricky Williams

Prediction: The Dolphins resign Williams to a 1 year deal.  Ronnie Brown gets a mega deal from the Washington Redskins (Dan Snyder remembers the 4 TD games out the wildcat), De’Angelo becomes a Denver Bronco, and Sproles takes his talents to some NFC team like Tampa Bay or Carolina.

Receivers

• Randy Moss
• Vincent Jackson
• Santonio Holmes
• Braylon Edwards
• Terrell Owens

Prediction: Moss becomes a Jet, Holmes resigns with NYJ, Braylon becomes a Texan, Vincent Jackson becomes a Ram or Redskin (whoever bids higher), and T.O. chases a ring as a Patriot or Chicago Bear.

Stay tuned for part two tomorrow, where we will take a look at the defensive side of the ball.

Through unnamed sources MDHQ has acquired the transcript of the NFL owner’s top secret meeting. The meeting took place in Chicago where Roger Godell, DeMaurice Smith, Judge Arthur Boylan, Jerry Jones, Jerry Richardson, Robert Kraft, and Art Rooney discussed settling the lawsuit between the trade organization formerly known as the NFLPA and the owners.

Below is a complete transcript of what happened:

Judge Boylan: Thank you gentlemen for meeting with me today. Today we are going to discuss-

Jerry Jones: We are going to discuss why no dang football is gettin’ played in my there stadium!!!

Judge: Calm down Mr. Jones..

DeMaurice Smith: THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! You built a BILLION DOLLAR STADIUM, AND YOU’RE CLAIMING YOU’RE LOSING MONEY?!!!!!

Jerry Richardson: Did you see Jimmy Clausen? I LOST MILLIONS!

Robert Kraft: *smirking* no one told you to draft him. How’s those Quarterbacks working out?

Richardson: I didn’t come here to be belittled! Screw you Robert, your three rings, your QB and, his pony tail! I heard a few little rumors *sniff* about some of your draft picks!

Judge: Gentlemen, gentlemen! We are here to discuss settling the labor agreement.

Jones: Exactly. Now I think we should add 16 games on the schedule.

Richardson: 16 MORE GAMES? HAVE YOU SEEN JIMMY CLAUSEN?

Kraft: Didn’t you draft that young guy? The big guy? The entertainer..

DeMaurice: Cam Newton! My boy.

Richardson: I drafted Cam Newton? I could have sworn I wrote Nick Fairley’s name on that damned card.

DeMaurice: You drafted Cam Newton.

Richardson *face palm*

Kraft *bursts out laughing*

Richardson: SCREW YOU BOB!

Jones: *pushing a pre written contract on the table* So 32 regular season games, we all agree to this right?

DeMaurice: And exactly how we are splitting revenue?!

Jones: All n’ half.

Judge: All in half?

DeMaurice: What is all in half?

Jones: Give me all the money, and I’ll half to think about what I’ma give you.

DeMaurice: HELL NO!

Kraft: I actually like this. I agree!

Judge: Mr. Rooney you’ve been awfully silent.

Art Rooney: I think we can do 32 games. I wouldn’t mind playing Cincinnati and Cleveland 6 times a year.

Richardson: SEE THIS IS THE B.S. I’M TALKING ABOUT!

Kraft: Don’t get mad you can’t compete Jerry. Just draft another QB next year, it will be alright.

Richardson: I’VE HAD IT! *storms out*

DeMaurice: 32 games my ass. I’m outta here too. *storms out*

Judge: Well gentlemen, it looks like we’ll have to table these discussions for another time….

Disclaimer: This is a satirical piece of fiction! Any reproduction or use of this article must include a link back to http://www.mockdrafthq.com!

Usually held in the beginning of June, the Rookie Symposium is a conference where rookies learn the NFL lifestyle; they learn about managing finances, adjusting their mindset to that of an NFL player, and staying out of trouble off of the field.

Rookies with character concerns will be the ones to watch out for off of the field. Players like Ravens CB Jimmy Smith and Patriots QB Ryan Mallet are now more at risk to find themselves incarcerated. It’s a good thing both have strong locker rooms to help guide them.

Expect lesser-than-expected play on the field from rookies, especially those picked in the first round. Living in a big city and having lots of money will distract attention from work. Guys with concerns about their work ethic, like Panthers QB Cam Newton and Lions DT Nick Fairley, could be no-shows for the first part of the season.

Hopefully this is just one of few events that is forced to be cancelled because of the lockout, but it will have its effects regardless.

I can agree with Ray to a certain point.  Without a season a lot of people will have idle time on their hands.  Right now you have 150 rookies and about another 50-100 college free agents sitting around with nothing to do.  Those guys don’t have the luxury of having a year’s notice to save up game checks to float them through the summer.  They really have no way of creating income right now, and a lot of idle time on their minds.

Think about it.

You’re 21-22, you just made the NFL, and you are not allowed to workout at the team facilities, meet with your coaches, and you don’t have any money.  I can see where this goes wrong.  Think “Michael Vick club appearance” type wrong.

“It’s modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money,” Peterson continued. “The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money.”

Now I understand you are mad that the owners won’t open up the books for the players to see, but the fact of the matter is this.  NFL players are employees, not business partners and they have already turned down an agreement from the owners that gave into all of their demands.  I’m sorry AP but I can’t find it in me to feel sorry for a 25 year old that made well over $10 million last year.  Im trying to find it….. nah, its not there.

The players need to realize that as long as they are on the field they are employees and if they wish to see the numbers maybe they should set their contracts up like some great baseball players do and not only play for the team, but position themselves to own a portion of it as well.