NFL Lockout: What To Expect Under a New CBA

There is optimism in the air that the ongoing NFL lockout will end soon, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith laying the groundwork for an agreement in principal that will eventually become the next collective bargaining agreement in the NFL.

But what happens next?

Here is a quick refresher of what to expect once a new CBA is agreed on.

Step 1: Settling Brady vs NFL

It is almost a forgotten element to the NFL lockout at this point, but Tom Brady and a group of players did sue the NFL back in March, and that case is ongoing.

Before any CBA can be signed, the players who sued the NFL must come to a settlement out of court with the NFL's representatives. Only after a settlement by both parties is reached can the NFL and the disbanded NFLPA begin to negotiate a new CBA again.

Granted, the judge in the case forced mediation that is essentially negotiations, but for all intents and purposes a judgement or settlement must come first.

Step 2: Waiver System

The first act of every NFL offseason is the waiver system, which allows NFL teams to place a bid on any player placed on a practice squad or a free agent without four years of service in the NFL. Players with more than four years service become unrestricted free agents.

Not much is expected from the waiver system this season, as the NFL teams actually did this back in February. There is still a chance the new CBA renders it necessary to go through this again.

If anything can be cut from the offseason, this is it.

Step 3: Franchise/Transition Tags

Now this one is important, and much hinges on the results of the new CBA. There is no indication as to what will happen with franchise and transition tags under a new CBA, and there are a few options.

A- Nothing changes. NFL teams can use the franchise tag like they did under the old CBA and all tags applied before the lockout are valid.

B- Tags applied before the lockout are invalid and must be re-applied.

C- Tags applied before the lockout are valid, but do not apply to members of the group who sued the NFL.

D- Tags are no longer available

Of those options, A and C are the most likely. When Reggie White and co. sued the NFL for free agency in 1992, one of the key sticking points was that the franchise tag could never be used on them. Time will tell if Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and co. will require the same thing.

Step 4: Free Agency Begins

Once franchise and transition tags have been applied, free agency will begin in earnest. Free agency in 2011 is expected to include all players with at least four years service whose contracts have expired becoming unrestricted free agents. This is in line with 2009 league rules.

Free agency includes the signing of unrestricted, restricted (three years of service) and undrafted free agents.

The 2011 free agency class is expected to be loaded with talent at many positions. Players including Nnamdi Asomugha, Haloti Ngata, Carl Nicks, Logan Mankins and Santonio Holmes will all enter free agency if there are no franchise or transition tags to apply.

The NFL offseason situation is still cloudy, but with each day the edges are becoming clearer in terms of what we can expect once the lockout is lifted.