PFT: Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

Hadn't seen this mentioned...but I think the CBA and such always important to keep a handle on...
ProFootballTalk.com - Rumor Mill

“LAST CAPPED YEAR” LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKELY
Posted by Mike Florio on October 15, 2008, 9:11 a.m.
When posting on Tuesday an item regarding the formal launch of the NFLPA’s search for a new Executive Director, I didn’t really think through the implication of the NFLPA’s announcement that the process will be finalized during the March 2009 meeting of player representatives.

This means that, unless the union is comfortable with the notion of a new CBA being finalized by interim Executive Director Richard Berthelsen, no new agreement will be in place by March 1, 2009.

And this means that 2009 will be the “last capped year” under the current CBA.

In 2006, the looming commencement of the last capped year forced the two sides to get a deal done. Basically, once the various teams digested the implications of the changes to the salary cap accounting rules that are triggered when the very next league year won’t have a salary cap in place, management realized that it made plenty of sense to get a deal done.

Though the rules of the last capped year in 2009 won’t be quite as restrictive as they were in 2006, it will nevertheless be painful for some of the teams to comply. So once the NFL absorbs the final year with a salary cap, the NFL might be more willing to take a year without a salary cap, which isn’t nearly as favorable to players as a superficial consideration of the absence of a cap suggests. (For example, the minimum requirement for becoming an unrestricted free agent moves from four years to six.)

And if there’s a year without a salary cap, it will be very difficult to put a cap back in place. Which means that it’ll be difficult to get a deal done on a new CBA.

Which means that we might very well be covering the UFL in 2011.

I wonder what this means long term for the league???

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

so does this mean that teams can go on a spending spree if they have the money? So its patritos vs cowboys superbowl every year from 2010 on?

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

Call me a bandwagon fan, but if the NFL becomes MLB, I'll lose interest. I remember the old Pats years where we were uncompetitive because the Sullivans lacked finances (as well as football common sense). Having seen the strong competitive advantage that money can bring in MLB, the crappy attitudes of migrant worker players, bad performances following big no cut contracts, I won't waste my time or emotions following guys that the next season will be NY Jets, Colts or something.

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

I remember there being some restrictions based on where you finished the previous year. Does anyone remember if those restrictions are based on this years record, or next?

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

The restrictions are actually entering the final year of the CBA--that is, the first uncapped year, 2010. The restrictions are on the teams that reach the 2009 divisional playoffs (and, IIRC, are tiered so that the teams that reach the AFCCG/NFCCG are more heavily restricted than the four losers in that round).

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

The good thing is all the agents are askig juniors come out next draft as if the CBA gets signed again one of the top item is rookie contract money.So 09 draft class is going to be very good.

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

Not sure of all the posion pills..there was also a refernce to Condie Rice possibly becoming NFLPA head..sort of a below the radar possibility..(YIKES!!) (It's also in PFT as well...) What I find interesting is thatthere seems to be no rush in getting back to a CBA again..and that puzzles me. Are they playing chicken again? Without the late Upshaw..who despite many things was able to get things done..and the rookie dunce Goodell, I guess they are just going down that road wthout any sense of urgency...not realizing the further they go the harder it will be to get back on track..ognoring that the golden goose could be dead.
I agree..keeping a real sense of balance with teams is somthing that makes the NFL great..the best..make it like the MLB..and even though the Pats might be better off than some, I don't want THAT type of league. MLB is bad enough...and the NBA has its own issues which make it quite unattratctive. Do the same to football and you may ruin it.

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

Sign Ed Reed in 2010!!!

EDIT: Isn't there only going to be ONE uncapped year?

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

Kraft and Jones do not think alike when it comes to spending $$'s. So I don't think it would play out like that.

However, if that goes down I would suggest Mr. Kraft, Scott and Bill change their Philosophy's on what positions are worth.

And while they are at it they can pay Tommy stupid cash - I mean, why not?

Re: PFT:Last Capped Year Looking Likely
 

There will be one uncapped year before the CBA expires.

More importantly, those limitations I mentioned above state that the eight teams that make the divisional playoffs for 2009 are restricted in their ability to sign UFAs in the offseason before the 2010 season. Basically, what happens is this:

(A) Those eight teams are allowed to replace UFAs lost in FA, but the new UFAs cannot be signed to larger contracts than the ones signed by the UFAs they lose.
(B) The four teams that lose in the divisional playoffs can sign additional UFAs beyond the rules in (A), but are strictly limited in the contracts they can offer.
(C) The four teams that win in the divisional playoffs CANNOT sign additional players beyond the rules in (A).
(D) If a team cannot sign a player as a UFA under the above provisions, that team CANNOT acquire that player via trade, either.
(E) There are no limitations on players re-signing with their own team, or signing players released on waivers.