It was several weeks ago that we heard reports the NFL wanted to try to get an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place in time for the start of the 2019 regular season. The incentive for the atypically early arrangement, in theory, was because the league did not want anything to dampen its plans to celebrate its centennial.
Even Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that it was their intention to try to get that done. It was later countered by subsequent reports, denying that the league had made it a priority. Then a mid-July meeting between the NFL and NFLPA for which three days had been set aside was cut short after one.