BY NICK GERHARDT

 

You're watching multisource sports video news analysis from Newsy.

 

The end is near! In the give-and-take of the NFL Lockout, the owners gave back on Friday. 

 

ESPN's John Clayton broke the story--with a minor slip-up on air--it's 2011, not 2001.

 

"This is a major one. One of the road blocks was the owner's demand to have three first right of refusals on [2011] per team, roughly taking 96 players almost off the market. They have dropped that demand now in an agreement with some other trade offs that now will free all four year free agents to be able to hit free agency."

 

Negotiations accelerated thanks, in part, to a major concession by the players on Thursday. 

 

Bloomberg Sports explains:

 

"Players and owners have cleared a major hurdle on rookie pay. ESPN saying first round draft picks will sign four year deals with a club option for a fifth year based on performance. That's going to cut those huge contracts for those first year players though, like Sam Bradford--70 million dollar contract, 50 million of which was guaranteed last year, by about 40-50 percent."

 

Just how much has been agreed upon to this point? Pro Football Weekly breaks it down:

 

"The players have been adamant about not wanting an 18 game schedule, we understand the owners have tabled that for the time being; it will probably come up again 2-3 years down the road. ...

 

"And then the big one folks--judicial oversight of this agreement. My sources are telling me the players have conceded it in exchange for what will be a panel of three retired judges now overseeing arbitration."

 

Most reports indicate a timely resolution, but don't just take it from the media. The NFL and players association made a promise to fans--together. Here's the joint statement, via NFLLaborNews.com.

 

"The discussions this week have been constructive and progress has been made on a wide range of issues. Our legal and financial teams will continue to work through the weekend… We will provide additional information as developments in this process continue."

 

The so-called soft deadline, July 15th, passed without an official resolution, but reports indicate the new collective bargaining agreement could be ratified at an owners meeting this Thursday. 

 

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Transcript by Newsy.