NFL Proposal Allows Teams To Trade Players Who Opt Out

The NFL’s latest proposal would allow players to opt out of the 2020 season, with formal notice delivered by Aug. 1. Under that proposal, teams would be permitted to trade those players, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

However, players would not be allowed to engage with their teams in that scenario. That’s a key provision – otherwise, players could theoretically parlay their opt-out into a holdout. Still, it’s not clear whether players would earn a portion of their salaries per the NFL’s pitch. Given the typical nature of negotiations between Roger Goodell and the NFLPA, it’s unlikely that concession has been made.

Earlier this month, the NFL floated the idea of placing 35% of player salaries in escrow, as a safeguard against lowered revenue. When the union rebuffed that monumental ask, the league effectively moved backwards in negotiations. Their latest pitch calls for a $40MM drop in the 2020 salary cap. Obviously, that’s a non-starter for the union at this time.

The NFL agreed to a new COVID-19 IR designation, but that’s not enough to mollify widespread concern and frustration in the union. So far, 72 players have tested positive for the virus, and that number could grow exponentially without careful planning.

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