New NFL CBA Officially Signed

There’s something about Canton, Ohio that brings comfort. Besides the midwestern friendliness and a dose of humidity, the city is a football fan’s dream – especially this weekend.

The city is also a Broncos fan’s dream because Shannon Sharpe is being inducted on Saturday evening.

In pre ceremony events, today marked a big day for NFL history and for the league’s future.

To kickoff the weekend, there was a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of the Hall’s “Future 50” expansion and renovation project. Roger Goodell, Dan Dierdorf (a Canton native), and Warren Moon were just some of many to take part in the ceremony which took place on the front steps of the Hall of Fame. This is a $27 million project that will increase the size of the Hall from 85,000 square feet to 115,000 square feet which includes a Pro Football Research and Preservation Center. The expansion is expected to be completed in the summer of 2013.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, the future of the NFL was ensured by none other than Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith. The two men signed the new 10-year collective bargaining agreement after a 4.5 month lockout. Goodell signed it first, and then passed the paperwork over to Smith saying “there you go.” The two men embraced  and the fans sitting along side the signing table screamed “thank you.”

Thank you, indeed.

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