The CBA proposal has not yet been sent to players, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) the NFL and NFLPA are working to finalize the document before players can vote on it. The earliest any player will be able to vote on the proposal will be next week. That throws a wrench into the franchise-transition tag process, among other matters. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith is confident this CBA will pass, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Smith and NFLPA president Eric Winston are on board with this offer, though some notable NFLers — including union reps Aaron Rodgers and Richard Sherman — are not.
Here is the latest from the CBA front:
- While some All-Pros and Pro Bowlers have voiced opposition to this proposal, roughly 60% of the NFL earns a league-minimum salary. That could sway the vote. League minimums for players with zero to three years of service time will see their pay spike in Year 1 of this new CBA, with Pelissero reporting (via Twitter) rookies will see $610K minimums and three-year vets on minimum deals will make $825K in 2019. Those are approximately $100K spikes. Rookies would make $510K this season under the 2011 CBA. Additionally, by 2029, every NFL salary will be at least $1MM, Pelissero adds.
- Veterans on low salaries could benefit under this CBA as well. Vested vets on low-cost deals of around $1.75MM AAV would not be subject to the compensatory formula, Pelissero adds (via Twitter). The goal here is for teams not to wait on signing “core veterans,” thus helping them get work earlier in the offseason or merely land with teams. These type of players are often forced to languish in free agency until after the compensatory pick deadline ends in early May or subject to the in-season workout circuit.
- Practice squad players would, however, lose an avenue toward higher salaries. This CBA would allow teams to demote players to practice squads twice without the player being subject to waivers, Pelissero tweets. This would prevent other teams from poaching P-squad talent while also impeding these players from seeing league-minimum salaries elsewhere. This appears similar to Major League Baseball, where younger players can be directly optioned to the minors.
Cock knocker
Rogers and Shermans opinions shouldnt matter. They are gone in a couple years, at most, anyway.
Agreed…while we’re at it, let’s no count old people’s votes since they’ll be gone in a couple years too.
I am for the low pay guys…their ‘careers’ may only be a few games…let them get it while they can. If I made 10 or 15 million in a year, my great, great grandchildren would be set for life.