The NFL lockout will not begin tonight. According to multiple reports, in particular NFL Network, the NFL owners and the NFL Players Association have agreed to a 24-hour extension to continue discussions about a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This means that, as of right now, the two sides will have until 11:59 Friday night to hammer out a new arrangement. However, it is likely that the extension was simply a delay tactic so the two sides have more time to discuss a longer-term extension. A source told Sports Illustrated's Don Banks that, indeed, that is the case.
Multiple reports indicate that the owners were the ones who pushed for the extension, with the players having some skepticism about whether this was merely a delay tactic. If the players did agree to the 24-hour extension, one would think they would have accepted something in return.
For now, at least, football is still in business.