The NFL owners and NFLPA have been meeting over the past two weeks in hopes of getting a new collective bargaining agreement done before they reach the point where the 2011 season could be in jeopardy. So far, the reports from these negotiations have been positive, but no details have leaked out… until now.
With all the NFL owners in Chicago for a meeting, reports are now that they are being briefed on some of the parameters that could end up being part of the final CBA that has been talked about with the players over the past two weeks. Here are some of the specific points that the negotiating teams on either side have reportedly agreed to.
Players will get 48 percent of all revenue. Previously, the owners were asking for 1-2 billion dollars off the top before revenue was shared. This is a big win for the players if true. The players’ share will not be allowed dip below 46.5 percent, per the formula that is used to share revenue. Teams will have a salary floor that requires them to spend at least 90-93 percent of the salary cap.
A rookie wage scale seems to be part of deal but is still being hammered out. The 18 game season is not part of the deal, but it will remain an option that can be discussed in the coming years. There will however be a new 16-game Thursday night TV package starting in 2012 that will help grow league-wide revenue and “pay” for part of this new deal.
In addition, owners will get some “expense credits” for funding new stadiums and retired players will see a significant bump in benefits.
Sources are saying that a deal could be done by mid-July, which would allow for a full preseason. Of course, there is still more negotiating to be done and the owners as a group still have to approve this deal.