The Facts: Following up on an ongoing story. ... A little-known provision in the collective bargaining agreement could be a huge detriment to a prolonged holdout by Jackson, who missed his fourth day of camp Monday. According to the NFL Players Association, players under contract must report at least 30 days prior to the first regular-season game or else they lose an accrued season of seniority. The Rams open the regular season Sept. 7 in Philadelphia, so Jackson must report by Aug. 8 -- a week from Friday -- or else the 2008 season will not count toward his eligibility for free agency.

Diehards Line:As Post-Dispatch staffer Jim Thomas explained, if the current collective bargaining agreement is voided, as is being threatened by team owners, players would need six years' seniority to be eligible for free agency following the 2009 season. If Jackson holds out beyond Aug. 8, he would have only five years' seniority after the '09 season, and thus would be eligible only for restricted free agency. ... Meanwhile, multiple sources told the Post-Dispatch that the Rams have offered Jackson a contract that would place him among the top four running backs in the NFL -- a figure that would top $7 million a year.