Optimism on the CBA Happening Soon

[Mitch]

The NFLPA has a major reason for wanting to vote yes (with a couple possible tweaks) on the CBA: and that is to make the fans happy.

You mean the players actually give a rat's as about the fans?

Well, now the players have even more incentive to make the fans happy: (per the new agreement proposal) the players will now get 55% of the television revenue.

Wow.

We've seen Peyton Manning's ubiquitous DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket ads---well, look for a whole team full of All Pros to join Manning in the Sunday Ticket campaign.

With a new 10 year CBA in place and fans assured that their NFL will be available to them for a decade without any fear of another insidious lockout---the TV revenues could start to soar.

One might imagine that the players will want to see Sunday Ticket become available on regular cable packages---and with added competition the Sunday Ticket may become more affordable for the average fan---even in a tight economy.

Look for single game ordering to commence sometime soon as well.

Last night, as the players started to see the concessions that the owners have made throughout the bargaining process, the players are starting to like the changes more and more.

Yes, the players did not get 50% of total revenue as they did the last time (48% instead---really not too shabby at that number)---BUT---they got the 55% of TV revenue---AND---they got vastly improved working conditions and benefits---the highlights of which are:

* minimum cap for all teams---this year set at $106.8M

* the league will spend 99% of the cap money

* free agency after 4 years (with team option to sign a player to a 5th)

* lower rookie salaries (making for fewer veteran cap casualties)

* later training camps

* no contact in training camps for the first three days

* no more full contact in training camp on two a days (one practice of the 2 can only be a walkthrough)

* OTA's reduced from 14 days to 9.

* no more 3rd QB rule---teams will dress 46 players for games

* only ONE contact practice per week for the first 14 weeks of the regular season

* only ONE contact practice in 3 of the last 5 weeks

* lifetime medical insurance (with deductibles) starting with those who play in 2011

The players may ask for a 7 year opt out clause---but---with all they have going for them in this deal, they may want to avoid any further delay or possible deal breakers.

Further delays will only further infuriate the fans at this point---and as mentioned---right now the fans have become the players' best friends.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Mitch, ever since I first read this I keep hearing Jesse Jackson saying, "Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive!"

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I thought the players used to 60% of all total revenue, after a $1B take back out of the pool to ownership?

Here is the revenue portion of the new deal - per the release on nfllabor.com

◦Beginning in 2012, salary cap to be set based on a combined share of “all revenue,” a new model differentiated by revenue source with no expense reductions. Players will receive 55 percent of national media revenue, 45 percent of NFL Ventures revenue, and 40 percent of local club revenue.

◦Beginning in 2012, annual “true up” to reflect revenue increases or decreases versus projections.

◦Clubs receive credit for actual stadium investment and up to 1.5 percent of revenue each year.

◦Player share must average at least 47 percent for the 10-year term of the agreement.

I would be curious to see how that works out in current form and future projections ... seems like media would be the cornerstone of revenue, so having your highest percentage take in that bucket seems favorable

However, with your percentage floor at 47% it almost makes it seem that there is legit concern about the total percentage of pure revenue creeping close enough to that # to make it relevant

Also, according to nfllabor.com - all players drafted get 4 year contracts, all undrafted players get 3 year contracts .... free agency starts at 4 years .... the undrafted players who signed 3 year deals become restricted FAs - first round picks will have a club option for a 5th year with an agreed upon tender (similar in mechanics to a franchise tag for your 1st round picks)

Sounds like they will also keep on the franchise & transition tags - not sure if they are changing the rules

It also sounds like once you get past that rookie contract the length is still negotiable

 

[oaken1]

Mitch,....I have never tried crack....but I am about too, because that stuff your smokin must be good!!
Pass the pipe this way and get ready to sit back and watch all these rich little girls fight....

 

[AntSports Steve]

If I was a player, that lifetime medical insurance is a huge boon for the players. In the past, many players could not get insurance after football because many of their injuries get labeled "Pre-Existing" and their new insurance would not pay/cover it.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Time to put this thing to rest. I think both sides gave and got.

I don't like the 7 year opt out the players are asking about. Let's get this done for 10 years so we can have football and not have to worry about another deal.

The owners did get a little slippery at the end and hopefully they did not try to throw anything in the deal to stall negotiations. But according to them they just approved what they had been negotiating all along. The problem was how they went about it.