We have Labor Peace - Now on to Bidding Wars

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It’s over: NFLPA* leadership unanimously ratifies CBA
Posted by Mike Florio on July 25, 2011, 1:54 PM EDT

Getty ImagesThe NFLPA* wanted a unanimous recommendation of the new labor deal before sending it to the rank-and-file for a 50-percent-plus-one vote, and the NFLPA* got it.

“It’s unanimous,” NFLPA* spokesman George Atallah said on Twitter.

It’s still not over, but there’s virtually no way at least 50 percent of the players won’t agree.

Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that the 10 Brady class action plaintiffs also have approved of the settlement.

and the timeline of events (for those still reading)

The timeline given to Executive Committee and player representatives
Posted by Mike Florio on July 25, 2011, 1:15 PM EDT

Getty ImagesEveryone has a timeline, so we decided we should get one, too.

We got ours from a pretty good source.  It’s the actual hard copy that was presented this morning to the NFLPA* Executive Committee and board of player representatives for consideration.

Titled “Article 11, Transition Rules for the 2011 League Year,” here’s what the document provides.

Today, the NFL will publish a Free Agency List.

On Tuesday, team facilities will open for voluntary training, conditioning, and classroom instruction.

On Tuesday, trades can begin.

At 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, teams may sign drafted rookies, undrafted rookies, and negotiate with (but not sign) their own unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, exclusive-rights players, and franchise players.

Also, beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, teams may negotiate with, but not sign or give offer sheets to, other team’s unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, and franchise players.

At 4:01 p.m. ET on Thursday, teams may waive or terminate player contracts.

At 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, teams may renegotiate existing player contracts.

Also at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, teams sign their own unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, exclusive-rights free agents, and franchise players.

Also at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, teams may sign unrestricted free agents from other teams, restricted free agents from other teams, and franchise players from other teams.

No payment of any kind can be made to any player until the CBA has been ratified by the players.

The 2011 league year will begin no later than August 4.  When the 2011 league year begins, teams must be under the salary cap.  (Specifically, their highest 51 cap numbers must fit under the cap.)

Thus, look for some teams to possibly go over the projected cap this week, and then to find a way to get under the cap before the official start of the league year.

and if you're a diehard fan (and literate, no sportscenter here) then here's the terms of the agreement:

We have an agreement.  Finally.   So what’s in it?

We know a lot about the new collective bargaining agreement and how it will shape the NFL for the next decade.  We’ll learn even more in the coming hours as we get a chance to read the fine print.

In the meantime, PFT wanted to give folks just joining the party a broad outline of the agreement.

(And by broad outline, we mean that we’ll mostly link to all the other posts we’ve been cranking out.  What, you thought we were going re-write all that junk?)

Length of agreement: We’ve got ten years of labor peace on the way.  There is no opt out clause in the deal.

Revenue split: This is what it was all about.  The players were on defense the whole time, knowing that owners would get a larger share of the overall pie.

The two sides agreed on a new “all revenue” model.  It’s a little complicated, but overall the players must average at least 47 percent of all revenue for the 10-year term of the agreement.

The money was counted differently in the past, but the split was essentially closer to 50-50 before.

Drafted Rookies: A new rookie wage scale will dramatically curb spending on rookies. High first-round draft picks are taking a huge hit. No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton, for instance, is expected to see less than half the guaranteed money of 2010 No. 1 pick Sam Bradford. Those top-shelf contracts will be four years, with a pricey fifth year option.

Measures to prevent rookie holdouts were also put into the deal, in part by making the rookie contracts simpler.  Players taken rounds two-through-seven aren’t overly impacted.


Undrafted rookies: They will be among the first players to sign with teams. A new signing bonus cap for undrafted players is expected to be put in place.

18-game season: The possibility of an 18-game season died a lot sooner than anyone expected. The players wanted no part of it and the issue was put off until 2013.  Owners can try to negotiate more games in 2013, but the players would have to agree to it. A stare down could ensue over the fate of the preseason.

Revenue sharing: The owners separately agreed to a new ten-year plan for revenue sharing.  This negotiation didn’t directly involve the players, yet it remains as vital to the sport as anything accomplished over the last few weeks.  The plan will tax the highest-earning teams.

Salary cap: The salary cap is set for $120.375 million in 2011.  That’s actually about $6 million less than the salary cap was back in 2009, the last year the cap  was in place.  It’s important to note the cap will rise with revenues.  (Future television deals.)

2011 salary cap flexibility: Even though the salary cap was ostensibly scaled back, teams were given two avenues to make it easier to retain high priced veterans this year.  Teams can “borrow” $3 million against future salary caps to pay for veterans.  They can also use another $3.5 million in what would otherwise be performance-based pay to use for veterans.

So the cap really isn’t $120.375 million. It’s basically $126.88 if teams want it to be.  An extra $6.5 million won’t save guys that truly deserve to get cut, but it will make life easier for teams near the cap limit.

Salary floors: Players accepted a relatively low salary cap in exchange for the raising the minimum teams have to spend.  This can’t be underestimated.  99% of the salary cap must be spent in cash in aggregate between 2011-2012.  The league-wide number falls to 95% after that.  Teams must spend at least 89% of the cap from 2013-2016 and 2017-2020.

This helps ensure teams that were way under the cap in recent years like the Bengals and Bucs spend more.

Player safety: The amount of padded practices in the regular season is now heavily regulated by the league.  Two padded practices per day in training camp (two-a-days) has also been banned.  (This doesn’t sit well with all players.) Teams can do a padded practice and a non-padded practice in the same day in training camp.

Teams will also reportedly have more days off during their bye week.

Offseason work: Offseason Organized Team Activities (OTAs) have been reduced from 14 days to 10.  The offseason program was reduced five weeks overall.

Retired players: The new deal reportedly adds $1 billion in new funds for retired players.  $620 will be used for a new “Legacy Fund,” which will be devoted to increasing pensions for pre-1993 retirees.

Tampering: There will be no need for teams to illegally contact agents about deals for free agents in the coming week.  Almost as soon as teams are back Tuesday, they can begin speaking to all unrestricted free agents.

And just in case we missed anything: Seven more odds and ends you may have missed.

[Steve]

Here's what happened over the last six months: Essentially, the owners and players let the proverbial gas light come on in the car that is the NFL. But be honest, does anyone fill up at half a tank?

[JeffreyS]

Steve I will be stealing that line.

[Rynjny]

Let's start some movement to get the stadium sold out and keep the team in town!!!..People support your hometown team!!!..btw..I'm not even from jacksonville.