The Lockout is over…… Officially
The Lockout has now officially ended when the Players Union voted to pass the 10-year deal that will guarantee football until 2021 this afternoon.
As we have all known, the NFL has been already acting as if the the lockout was lifted as of two weeks ago, signing free agents and beginning training camp last week but now its truly official.
One thing that was not originally in the new CBA was that for the first time ever the NFL will test for HGH in its drug testing.
"The CBA includes blood testing for human growth hormone for the first time, with the goal for it to be implemented by Week 1 of the regular season, a source familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter."
And the biggest benefit for the Panthers now that the lockout is lifted is that all of the free agents the team signed and the other Panthers that were signed extensions can finally practice. Yes that means that Charles Johnson, DeAangelo Williams, Thomas Davis, James Anderson, Derek Anderson, Ron Edwards, Jon Beason, Greg Olsen, Olindo Mare and the rest of the Panthers signings will finally be able to suit up and practice instead of just sitting around goofing off.
So if you haven’t made it down to Spartanburg to see the Panthers practice and are planning on it, now is the time to go and see all the stars play.
It was especially important that the lockout ended because the Panthers were missing pretty much everyone of its impact players on the defensive side of the ball. The entire starting linebacker core was sitting out as well as the two most proven defensive lineman on the team. For all the newly richer Panthers, the summer break is over. It is time to get to work and earn all of those millions and millions of dollars that the Panthers shelled out.
So, here is to knowing that football is 100% guaranteed for this season and for the next nine seasons. I’m excited and ready for the games to begin.
Quick Notes
— Joseph Person just announced that wide receiver Armanti Edwards has officially changed his number to 14. That was the same number he wore at Appalachain State University were he played quarterback.
— Also, it was earlier reported that the Panthers were over the salary cap but that has changed. However, now it seems like the Panthers are actually under the cap by $1,915,000 according to Pro Football Talk. So the Panthers do have a bit more room to work with if they are still interested in signing a veteran cornerback or wide receiver.
— Lastly, yesterday Jerry Richardson made an appearance at the Panthers training camp when Roger Goodell came down to visit with the Panthers and Richardson didn’t pass up a chance to take a jab at some of the media and even fans who called Richardson cheap last season.
"“Does anybody feel just a little bad about calling me cheap last year? Just a smidgen?” Richardson said to the media yesterday."
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