Michael Lombardi of NFL Network confirmed to Behind The Steel Curtain that an agreement between the owners and the players has been reached, and training camp will begin this week league-wide.
Lombardi Tweeted at 11:20 a.m. ET "Football is back. No more lockout talk. And let the off field and on field activities begin. Stay tuned to @nflnetwork all day for updates."
Lombardi was asked by BTSC, "Is this legit? The deal has been approved and free agency is underway right now?"
Lombardi responded, "It's done."
Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer reported a similar story, confirming a deal had been struck, at 10:56 a.m. ET.
The NFL is confirming the report on its web site under a Breaking News heading, titled "NFL Network’s Albert Breer reports player reps will vote on the deal today. Training camps open this week."
UPDATE: Matt Pomeroy, Manager of NFL Network Research, Tweeted (and re-Tweeted by NFLN's Albert Breer) the Steelers are scheduled to begin training camp Thursday, July 28.
Pomeroy has the start dates of all 32 teams broken out into four groups, starting Wednesday, July 27, Thursday, July 28, Friday, July 29 and Sunday, July 31. No reason is being given why teams aren't starting on Saturday, July 30. (reader Akshay R pointed out this is likely because the new CBA requires teams to start camp no more than 15 days before their first preseason game.)
Joining the Steelers on Thursday are San Francisco, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Washington and New Orleans.
Starting Wednesday are Denver, Arizona, Dallas, San Diego, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, New England, Oakland, Baltimore and Seattle.
Friday will be Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Green Bay, Carolina, St. Louis, Tennessee and Minnesota.
Sunday will be Houston and the New York Jets.
UPDATE: CBS Sports NFL writer Mike Freeman is reporting the NFLPA has scheduled a conference call this afternoon with agents to go over the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement.
More information will come out as it appears today will kick an extremely active day. As it is, the threat is over; there will be football in 2011.