A little more progress in CBA talks

Negotiators for the NFL and players Saturday continued making progress on resolving any remaining differences, and there's a chance the NFL Players Association's executive committee could meet as soon as Monday in Washington to approve a deal.

A source familiar with the negotiations told Newsday that the progress achieved Saturday was significant enough that it could lead to an approval vote by Monday. Two other sources confirmed that progress continued during Saturday's discussions but didn't go as far as to say a deal is imminent.

"The optimism is still there," one of the people familiar with the talks said. "We've been working through the issues list all day."

If the NFLPA's executive committee signs off on the deal Monday, league operations could resume by the end of this week, with teams opening their training camps sometime next week, according to people familiar with the talks.

Also Saturday: According to a person briefed on the talks, Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who had been seeking $10 million or the removal of the franchise tag as part of a settlement in the Tom Brady v. NFL antitrust lawsuit, has rescinded his demands. Jackson's previous actions had been seen as an impediment to resolving the legal entanglements because he is a plaintiff in the Brady case. Now that he has withdrawn his demands, the two sides are in agreement over the lawsuit being withdrawn as part of what is being called a "global settlement" of all the issues between the two sides.

Owners voted 31-0 -- with the Raiders abstaining -- in favor of the new CBA on Thursday evening, and they had hoped the NFLPA executive committee would quickly announce their approval of the deal. But the committee has yet to vote, because it believed there still were issues that needed to be agreed upon.

Player representatives spoke via conference call Saturday and will continue to do so over the weekend, according to Ravens player rep Domonique Foxworth. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also have been in regular communication, according to people familiar with the talks.

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It is uncertain when players will vote. But people familiar with the talks believe that once a vote is scheduled, it will result in approval of the deal.

"De [Smith] won't call for a vote unless he knows it will go through," a person with knowledge of the talks said.

One of the biggest issues yet to be settled: how players will recertify as a union. The NFLPA decertified March 11 and must agree to recertify before the league will end the lockout. NFLPA sources have expressed concern that players must sign union cards to recertify, which could take several days. Owners are willing to provide union cards at their facilities.

Other issues still being negotiated, according to a source: rules regarding workers' compensation, an opt-out clause in the 10-year CBA (currently there is no opt-out agreement), and discipline and drug-testing agreements.

Once the players agree to terms of the CBA, it is expected that teams will reopen their doors within a day or two of the agreement. There would be a four-day window for teams to negotiate with their own free agents, as well as sign undrafted rookie free agents.

After that, a five-day signing period would commence for unrestricted free agents. Training camps would open the same day as the free-agency signing period.