Labor Talk Details

[Titty Meat]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6687485

Among the details NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is revealing to owners Tuesday at the owners' meeting in Rosemont, Ill., is that in the next proposed agreement players will receive a 48 percent share of "all revenue," without the $1-billion-plus credit off the top that had been a point of contention in earlier negotiations, according to sources familiar with the presentation.

Under the new formula being negotiated, players will receive 48 percent of all revenue and will never dip below a 46.5 percent take of the money, sources said.

Proposed CBA Details
Details of a proposed collective bargaining agreement being pitched to NFL owners Tuesday, according to sources:

• Players get 48 percent of "all revenue," without extra $1-billion-plus off top that previously had been requested by owners.

• Players' share will never dip below 46.5 percent, under new formula being negotiated.

• Teams required to spend minimum 90-93 percent of the salary cap.

• Rookie wage scale part of deal but still being "tweaked."

• 18-game regular season designated only as negotiable item and at no point is mandated in deal.

• New 16-game Thursday night TV package beginning in 2012.

• Owners still will get some expense credits that will allow funding for new stadiums.

• Retirees to benefit from improved health care, pension benefits as revenue projected to double to $18 million by 2016.

-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

In the previous collective bargaining agreement, players received approximately 60 percent of "total revenue" but that did not include $1 billion that was designated as an expense credit off the top of the $9 billion revenue model. Owners initially were seeking another $1 billion in credit only to reduce that amount substantially before exercising the lockout on March 13.

Ultimately, the two sides have decided to simplify the formula, which will eliminate some tedious accounting audits of the credit the players have allowed in the previous deal. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has stated that players were actually receiving around 53 percent of all revenues instead of the much advertised 60 percent.

Owners still will get some expense credits that will allow funding for new stadium construction, sources said.

A rookie wage scale will be part of the new deal but is still being "tweaked," and the much-discussed 18-game regular season will be designated only as a negotiable item with the players and at no point is mandated in a potential agreement. A new 16-game Thursday night TV package beginning in 2012 will be the source of new revenue.

As revenues are projected to possibly double by 2016 to $18 billion annually, retired players will benefit from improved health and pension funding that is expected to increase significantly.

Players believe they can justify a 48 percent take because of the projected revenue growth, as well as built-in mechanisms that require teams to spend a minimum of 90-93 percent of the salary cap, sources said. The mandatory minimum spending increase is an element that concerns lower-revenue clubs, sources say.

A league source told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that there will not be a vote on a new collective bargaining agreement Tuesday.

"This is strictly informational. There is nothing to vote on," the source told ESPN.

The negotiating teams for the owners and players, led by Goodell and Smith, are expected to return to the table most likely Wednesday and Thursday at an undisclosed site, hoping to build off the momentum of three strong weeks of talks under the supervision of a court-appointed mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

A source told ESPN.com's John Clayton that talks are scheduled to resume Wednesday in Boston.

Cautious expectations on the two sides reaching an agreement in principle are varied, ranging from one-to-three weeks with the hopes of beginning a new league year (free agency, etc.) by mid-July.

If and when there an agreement is reached, all players with four or more years of experience are expected to be unrestricted free agents, according to sources familiar with the talks. Certain tags will be retained but that still is being discussed.

Players are willing to commit to at least a 10-year labor agreement if the sides can agree on the terms, sources told Clayton. The first preseason game, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is scheduled for Aug. 7.

Any breakdown in talks could result in the loss of preseason games and threaten the opening of the regular season.

"This is the season to get a deal," Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said before entering the conference room where representatives from all 32 teams were being updated by Goodell and his negotiating committee. "I think the logic that you're pushing on both sides is saying why get a deal Oct. 1, or whenever, when you could have had July 7, or whatever."

[Titty Meat]

More at ESPN: If and when agreement is reached, all players with 4, 5 and 6 years of service are expected to be unrestricted free agents.
6 minutes ago via UberSocial

[allen_kcCard]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

More at ESPN: If and when agreement is reached, all players with 4, 5 and 6 years of service are expected to be unrestricted free agents.
6 minutes ago via UberSocial

ALLLLL?

So, players like Manning, Brady, etc etc etc etc will all be UFA?

Holy moley bidding wars batman.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by allen_kcCard

ALLLLL?

So, players like Manning, Brady, etc etc etc etc will all be UFA?

Holy moley bidding wars batman.

Doubt it.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by allen_kcCard

ALLLLL?

So, players like Manning, Brady, etc etc etc etc will all be UFA?

Holy moley bidding wars batman.

Players who's contracts are up and whose status as RFA/UFA was otherwise in question because of the 'years of service' issue.

[allen_kcCard]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Players who's contracts are up and whose status as RFA/UFA was otherwise in question because of the 'years of service' issue.

Ahhh, so players that are FAs anyway, with those years of service, will all be unresctricted...makes a bit more sense.

[Titty Meat]

Will that mean Steve Smith (NYG) is a free agent?

[OnTheWarpath15]

A Thursday night game every week?

Hate that idea.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

A Thursday night game every week?

Hate that idea.

Not me, i love it, the more football i can see and not have to be switching back n forth is good for me.

[cabletech94]

sunday, monday, some saturdays, and now thursdays too (6 games as of last year)??? sounds like a win win.

if only there was something to do on tuesday, wednesday, and friday.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

A Thursday night game every week?

Hate that idea.

Agreed

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

A Thursday night game every week?

Hate that idea.

The NFL hates fantasy football and those without NFLN, apparently.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Players who's contracts are up and whose status as RFA/UFA was otherwise in question because of the 'years of service' issue.

So, Carr, Gillberry, B-Rich, Hali. Who else of note?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

The NFL hates FFL players and those without NFLN, apparently.

I have NFLN, and really didn't think of the FF impact.

I just don't think it's good for the game. You're asking these guys to play on a 3-day turnaround, and some teams are likely going to have to do it more than once. It's a huge disadvantage to those teams.

Plus, I hate the idea that injured players aren't getting the entire week to get themselves ready to play on Sunday. You're going to see players miss these games they might have been able to play in had they had the extra 3 days to get treatment.

And you're asking out-of-town season ticket holders to take vacation or miss a game.

I'm not a big fan of the Thursday night games as it is, much less adding the entire season. Thanksgiving night? Awesome. Scrap the rest, IMO.

[The Poz]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Will that mean Steve Smith (NYG) is a free agent?

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports all players with at least four years of service time will be unrestricted free agents under the labor agreement currently being discussed.
This had been the expected outcome as long as a new CBA was reached as opposed to a court-ordered short-term fix. The new free agency rules will affect upwards of 500 players, which should lead to a frenzy in late July after an agreement is reached. DeAngelo Williams, Ahmad Bradshaw, Joseph Addai, Sidney Rice, Santonio Holmes, Steve Smith (NYG), and Zach Miller are the major fantasy names affected. All of the above will hit the open market.