Winners

Fans

They spent the spring and early summer in limbo, watching a league they have supported wholeheartedly fight over millions. Fans deserve this settlement even more than the players and owners.

NFL employees

Some teams forced workers to take pay cuts and furloughs, while others were laid off. For those who have their pay and/or jobs restored, this is a time to rejoice.

Top free agents

After a long wait, it’s time to get paid. Nnamdi Asomugha, call your banker.

Roger Goodell

He was booed at the draft, and was criticized by many players. But in the end, he helped get the owners on the same page and got a deal that gave the country’s most popular sport 10 years of labor peace to look forward to.

DeMaurice Smith

The players did not fracture, benefits for retired players improved, and the gamble to decertify the union paid dividends.

Loosers

Rookies

They won’t make nearly as much money as last year’s group, and they won’t have as much time as they wanted to get ready for the season. Sam Bradford picked the right year to be drafted. Cam Newton picked a tough one.

First-year head coaches

After being robbed of their offseason workouts new coaches must rush to put their systems in place, and to get their teams ready to play. Hey, Jim Harbaugh. Are you still glad you left Stanford for the 49ers?

The Hall of Fame Game

The length of the lockout forced the Bears vs. Rams, scheduled for Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio, to be cancelled. Too bad, but it could have been so much worse.