The NFL has set up a great website for keeping the owners, players, media and fans abreast of the issues regarding the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. However, I doubt the players will be following the NFL's "version" of what is going on and will turn to the NFL Players Association for their "side" of the story.
For us fans, the NFL's site is a chronological and almost daily update on what has been said by both parties and what is going on, with FAQ's, details and quotes from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. For example, it was reported that while the owners share of revenue increased by $1.2 billion since 2006, the players share jumped by $2.6 billion. We should all take moment to bow our heads and weep for such a great disparity.
While I'm sort of on the owners' side in this, the players need to be ensured that their income for a sport that has such a short career for the most part, and they continue to have the salaries and benefits that extend well into their retirement and whatever physical limitations that may arise. At the same time, they are employees with great skills and while I believe they are paid well for their efforts, the rookie contracts we've seen over the past years are ridiculous and offensive to the veterans who are outpaid by kids who have never taken a snap in the NFL.
For more on this critical issue, including a few FAQ's and a link to the NFL Labor News site, click on the 'Jump.'
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement, initially negotiated in 1993, has been extended on several occasions, most recently in March 2006.
NFL clubs voted unanimously in May 2008 not to extend the agreement beyond the 2010 season because their costs were rising faster than their revenues. The clubs are committed to negotiating a new agreement, for the 2011 season and beyond that will better serve the clubs, the players and most important, the fans.
What does this mean to fans and games on the field?
If there is no new agreement before March 5, 2010, the 2010 season will be played without a salary cap under rules that also limit the free agency rights of the players. In an uncapped year, there is also no minimum team payroll.
What are the issues?
The principal issue is ensuring that the agreement is structured in a way that provides incentives for the clubs to invest, innovate and improve the game for the benefit of the fans over the long term.
Q. Why does the NFLPA say that the owners have never explained why this current CBA has been terminated?
A. The decision has been explained repeatedly at the bargaining table and publicly. The CBA, which does not adequately recognize the costs of generating revenue, does not afford the clubs sufficient incentives to invest in the future of the game.
Q. Are owners asking veteran players to take an 18 percent pay cut?
A. Absolutely not. Between reductions in outrageous salaries for rookies and anticipated increases in revenue, current players should not see their compensation decline under the clubs’ proposal. The goal is to create a system that will allow for growth in revenue and player compensation.
Q. When does the CBA expire if there is no extension of the agreement?
A. In March of 2011.
Click here for a link to the NFL Labor News site. Note that there are tabs are the top of the page to click on for an NFL calendar of key dates as well as another tab to look at the official and current CBA.
Walker isn’t getting a raise. Actually, he will be turning down a raise since he said that he is 100% coming back to the Ravens next year. This basically means that he is going to take what ever offer we give him and ignore what will most likely be somewhat bigger offers from other teams.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I just read Brian Billicks book “More than a Game”. It has some pretty good insight to whats developing in this situation. Also has some interesting Ravens talk as well. After reading I am kinda on the owners side as well.
The players are making more than the owners, which is already saying something wrong. I love it when they say they’re being treated like “slaves!” The make 51% of the revenue and the owners want to scale it back to around 42%. Why don’t they go something like 52-48% and be done with all this posturing?
Part of me wants them to strike. The last thing the public/fans want to hear about in this economy are the rich fighting over millions. It’s almost as bad as listening to the oil, credit card and car compnaies whining about profits as they shove bonus after bonus into each others pockets. I think the fans should start the FAN league. We select our local city players and travel on old school buses to neighboring cities for parking lot games. We select our players by the way they rap, dance and box. Let’s get to the heart of what a fan really wants to see. Meal money and gas is all we need for start up…and an old church bus.
It’s my understanding that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has the provision that allowed the owners to opt-out after this past season – which they did. That clause specifies that (unless a new CBA is negotiated) the next year would be uncapped and that the following year would not be played (i.e the “lock-out”). So it’s not anyone’s decision to lock the players out, its their (players and owners) decision not to agree on a new CBA that will trigger a lock-out.
I’m going to have to side with the cheerleaders. You never hear them complaining about how much money they make. They just jump around and look pretty. We could all learn a lot from those chicks….
Ya, it actually works out great. Because it already takes a total lack of judgment in the first place to be a Steeler fan. So hooking up with “big girls” should come naturally to them.
But the huge rookie contract and signing bonuses should be limited. That money would be better spent if it were better distrubted to the veterans, and part of it put it some sort of pool, to be used for the health issues of the retired players.
"Our O-line is developing, they just don’t show it." From "Buc It" a Bucs fan.
….but I hear you’re getting a ton of love from around the sports world and opening doors everywhere. So let me have my 25 words of fame, much less my 15 minutes!
You will always be the King of Beatdown. It was cool though when I wrote that Team Needs Analysis and I saw it linked to USA Today, Yahoo, CBS Sports and WBAL. Guys like Tom Davis and Peter Schmuck referred it to their sites. Thought that was pretty cool.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I plan on making a weekly update on this topic as the CBA expires on March 5th, and then the proverbial poop will really hit the fan as Free Agency begins!
The huge contracts go to the first 10-15 picks . By the time you get into the second round, the contracts are less than your average starter. That’s why it’s such a big deal for these players to renegotiate contracts that they’ve “outplayed”
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