NFL 2011 Update: The Lockout is Over and Free Agency Begins

As of Monday July 25, 2011, the NFL players and owners had reached a tentative agreement on ending the lockout. Sports betting fans were relieved to hear that, but Tuesday morning, both sides made it official. Now that the online casino games sites know that the players are back to work, the only question remaining is what kind of free agency schedule will be implemented. The NFL has been releasing tentative schedules for weeks now, but the actual schedule that is being followed works at a much faster pace than anticipated.

On Tuesday July 26, teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents and free agents from other teams. The teams can also sign their own draft picks and undrafted free agents, but no other free agent signings are allowed to take place. Tuesday is also the day that trades are allowed to start. There were some minor trades early in the day, but the big action is expected to be during free agency signing.

From Tuesday to Thursday, teams need to be at 90 players for the opening of their training camps. But, at this point, no team is allowed to sign any free agent just yet. Waivers opens on Thursday which means that teams can start cutting players.

At 6pm EST on Friday July 29, the free agency signing period begins. Teams can sign their own free agents and free agents from other teams. It will be a chaotic week in the NFL, and it will be unlike anything the league has ever seen.