Also, teams will be required to spend nearly all the way up to the salary cap under this proposed agreement. That means that small-market teams won’t be able to cheap out on payroll to save money. In the previous agreement, the total payroll floor was less than 90% of the cap, so this should force teams to spend their money, making the competitive balance even better in a league that is already in pretty good shape in that aspect. Several other issues, such as TV deals and the rookie wage scale are also featured in the deal, but those have yet to be ironed out.

So, overall this looks like a major step forward in discussions. Now that these details are out there, it will be tough for either side to hold off on these point due to public opinion. Neither side wants to be the “bad guy” in these negotiations, so I can’t imagine either holding up a deal. I have heard numerous insiders who believe that we could have agreement in principle in the next 7-10 days, and if that happens, it’s only a matter of time before a final deal is agreed upon. This isn’t to say that this thing is completely finished by any means, and we have seen this turn bad several times already. I will say that I think this is as close as we have been, and I’m confident that the 2011 NFL season will take place on time.

There are plenty of issues the two sides are dealing with, but it looks like the major sticking point is the division of revenue between the owners and players. From what I understand, the players got 60% in the previous agreement, but the owners want to cut that share to just over 40%. That’s an awfully big chunk to get cut out, and the players don’t want anything to do with it. Add that to the rookie wage scale and 18-game schedule, and we have a real problem here. I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button just yet, but it’s getting awfully close.

If the two sides don’t come to an agreement before the March deadline, it could have a major effect on the offseason preparation for the Rams. The offense is learning a new system, and Sam Bradford is still young. This thing could be a disaster, so it’s worth keeping an eye on over the next several weeks.