NEW YORK -- A source with knowledge of the NFL talks told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio on Thursday night that the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement are headed toward a settlement.

Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter earlier Thursday evening that the sides had agreed in principle to a rookie wage system and since that is no longer an impediment to a deal, the source told Paolantonio, "both sides are intent on working through each issue line by line to get this deal done."

Another source said that since the rookie wage system was overcome, the progress has been significant with almost unforeseen momentum, surprising even the participants.

With the sides working at a frenzied pace, they reached a tentative agreement to make the 2011 salary cap $120 million, a source told ESPN.com NFL senior writer John Clayton.

"ESPN News" wrote:

Wouldn't a salary cap of $120 actually represent a net reduction over the 2009 salary cap, which depending on the source was $127 million to $128 million?

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 

The shield nor the players are going to get any of my money {directly} for a bit.. it is the only way I can protest at the nonsense of the concept of a lockout.



No merchandise.. still haven't purchased a single thing post Superbowl when it was apparent that a lockout was likely.



No Sunday Ticket.. actually canned that last year.



No games.



Told my son no Madden this year.



If I wasn't such an addict.. I might even boycott a couple of games.. but honestly probably won't happen.



It is not that they negotiated.. it is not that there were not issues that needed to be addressed.. but this sport flaunts a 9 Billion dollar revenue stream and both sides talked about the model not working for them. Well how the hell do you think it works for us the fan?



<Probably the last time I can bitch about it for 10 years... so I am doing just that. />



A couple of weeks I will settle and return to targeting the clowns like Billy, Jerry and Al Davis lol.



They still are not getting my money this season.. jackasses.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

I can appreciate your righteous rants; but I am a football junkie and am willing to pay the dime, because it is my vice. What I don't like paying is markup on retail for jerseys and hats. I also have to pay a lot for transportation if I go to a game because I live in Siberia. I've never bought the Sunday ticket because my buddies and I all agree that it's much more pleasent to leave the comforts of our homes to be served beer and wings by young waitresses.

I'm just glad they are working it out finally and we don't have to miss a season.

Originally Posted by: DakotaT