Deal reached to end NFL lockout

WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- The NFL Players Association's executive committee voted to approve a tentative collective bargaining agreement to end the league's lockout, nfl.com reported.

The league, which has had a lockout in place for four months, and players' representatives worked into the early hours of Monday negotiating the final details, nfl.com said.

"The board of player reps and the executive committee have unanimously recommended the approval of the deal," union chief DeMaurice Smith said Monday afternoon outside the NFLPA's headquarters in Washington.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a group of owners then walked into the union's headquarters behind Smith and a group of players to sign the new agreement, said to be a 10-year pact with no opt-out clause for either side.

Thirty-two player representatives voted unanimously Monday afternoon to approve the labor deal agreed to by both sides hours earlier.

The player representatives will officially recommend the deal to their teammates, and the NFL's 1,900 players will cast their votes on whether to re-form as a union and agree to the labor deal.

The end of the lockout means teams will open doors to players Tuesday.

Arizona, Oakland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, New England, Seattle, San Diego, Denver and Dallas all open the pre-season Aug. 11 and will be the first teams allowed to start camp.

Teams will be able to begin signing draft picks and undrafted rookie free agents Tuesday, and also open negotiations with unrestricted free agents.