Camps set to open after NFL, players' union reach agreement

NFL training camps are set to open after the league and the players' union reached agreement on several issues, including future salary cap mechanisms and how players can opt out of the upcoming season because of the coronavirus.

The NFL Players Association's executive committee and 32 player representatives approved the offers Friday.

Players who decide they want to opt out have until Aug. 3 to do so, and they will receive a stipend from the owners. The amount of the stipend will be $ 350,000 for medical opt outs and $150,000 for voluntary opt outs, two people with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the

stipend amount was not made public.

That agreement eliminated one major obstacle to a full opening of training camps next week. Already, t he si des had agreed to cancel all pres eason games, as well as to a reduction in the number of roster spots in training camp from 90 to 80 — though teams will have until Aug. 16 to get down to 80.

The league also offered an extended acclimation period of 18 days for players, given that the coronavirus caused the cancellation of all off season on-field activities at team facilities. Training camps are to open Tuesday, though the Texans and Chiefs, who meet in the season opener Sept. 10, have veterans scheduled to arrive this weekend for COVID-19 testing.

Many economic issues were settled, including how to handle revenue losses that would result from games played without fans or even canceled games because of COVID-19. The league has proposed a minimum salary cap of $175 million for 2021; this season's cap is $198.2 million.

BEARS: Chicago canceled season ticket packages on Friday because they're not sure how many fans — if any — will be allowed at Soldier Field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Season ticket holders can get refunds for this year or have their payments credited toward 2021.

JETS: New York Jets have signed safety Ashtyn Davis to his rookie deal, the last of the team's nine draft picks to get under contract. He was a third-round selection from Cal. The deal signed Thursday is for four years and worth $4.9 million.

VIKINGS: Minnesota signed head coach Mike Zimmer to a three-year contract extension through the 2023 season, finalizing a key piece of business Friday

before the beginning of training camp. In addition, they will begin training camp with their entire 15-player draft class under contract after finalizing rookie deals Thursday, including first-round picks Justin Jefferson and Jeff Gladney.