Fans Rejoice as NFL Lockout Ends

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Members of the Raven Nest 8 walked into Bill Batemen’s in Middle River on Tuesday night feeling like a big weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

After months of negotiations and fear the NFL season could be lost, players and owners reached agreement Monday on a new collective bargaining agreement ending the 136-day lockout, the longest work stoppage in league history.

The 10-year deal provides long-term labor peace For America's most-popular professional sport and allows fans to start talking football again.

“The owners and players aren’t dumb enough to screw up the billion-dollar business that is the NFL,” said Ravens Nest 8 member Steve Brown, of Abingdon. “I knew they were going to get a deal done, but I knew it would also take getting close to losing games—and money— for both sides to come together.”

The Ravens Nest 8 faithful couldn’t hide their joy following the end of the lockout, especially with the Baltimore’s baseball team, the Orioles, on their way to their 14th straight losing season.

Ravens Nest 8 member John Knoerlein said he wanted to do cartwheels through his house as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, along with players and owners, stood together and declared a truce.

“The Ravens came here in 1996 and the last time the Orioles were any good was 1997,” Knoerlein said. “Since then, this town has been all Ravens. For many sports fans in town, the Ravens are the only winners they know.

"My 22-year-old son came home the other day wearing Yankees gear and I couldn’t blame him. The last time the O’s were a winner, he was 7.”

While the Ravens Nest 8 members were glad to be discussing whether quarterback Joe Flacco can lead Baltimore to the Super Bowl, they understand the end of the lockout did not shield fans from the business side of the NFL.

With the new deal comes a new $120 million salary cap. For the Ravens to remain in compliance with the cap and be able to re-sign several key contributors, the team is forced to sever ties with many longtime popular players, such as tight end Todd Heap, wide receiver Derrick Mason, defensive tackle Kelly Gregg and running back Willis McGahee.

“There was no bigger bombshell than them letting Heap go,” Ravens Nest 8 member Cheryl Sovitsky said. “You always knew how many Ravens fans were in an opposing stadium when he caught a ball and the ‘Heap’ chant broke out.

"But, the one thing we all learned from the lockout was that the NFL is a business.”