Small rumors are surfacing -- the Jets want a give back from Chad Pennington, for example but the day's biggest story involves the CBA. The New York Daily News reports today that the NFL could delay the start of its business year from March 3rd to April 1st to allow more time for a new collective bargaining agreement. The league and players assocation have apparently make progress the past few days and want the extra time to avoid the chaos of operating without an agreement. If the current CBA were to expire the 2007 season would be uncapped. Player bonuses could only be spread out over four years rather than seven and the service limits for becoming restricted and unrestricted free agents would be extended two years, severely limiting the pools of potential free agents after 2006.
A one month delay would make April the most explosive offseason month in memory, with free agency beginning on the first and the draft just over three weeks later.