A. Brandt of NFP outlines his guess at new CBA

[DaBruinz]

Let me get this straight:

Cap will stay in place. Smaller increases than in previous years.
18-game season.
Rookie wage scale.
Franchise tage remains in place.

All the other items are throw-downs. Why would the players accept such an agreement?

Because they are going to get medical benefits beyond the end of their career paid for by the owners. If you think that is any small expense, you are fooling yourself.

 

[Ring 6]

Too bad on the 18 game schedule. The current Season with the bye week is long enough. I'd rather see another bye week added if they're looking another week of TV revenue. The extra money to the players will be quickly used up by the expanded rosters. And in a couple years when overall revenues stall again, what then. A 20 game schedule?? I'm pretty devoted to watching Football on Sundays, but I think I'll be passing on more games and doing other thing on weekends.

I'd like a 47 week season. 4 weeks for playoffs, 1 week for Free Agency and training camp.
Seriously, more football= better

 

[Ring 6]

Let me get this straight:

Cap will stay in place. Smaller increases than in previous years.
18-game season.
Rookie wage scale.
Franchise tage remains in place.

All the other items are throw-downs. Why would the players accept such an agreement?

Because they appear to have no bargainning power. The deal in place was a damn good one for them to begin with.
Rookie wage scale isnt really a big deal, it just redistributes the money in favor of guys who have not played in the league getting less before proving themselves. Doesnt hurt the union at all.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Plus I love watching football every week, extending the season by oh lets say 3 weeks would make me happy.

Few people are suggesting adding more games.

Mostly the idea is that preseason will be shorter. [It still amazes me that there was a time when the NFL season had SIX pre-season games!]

 

[everlong]

If they are going to do the 18 game schedule they should make it three bye weeks. This would allow for 21 weeks worth of TV and break the season into thirds for the players. It would also allow for the Thursday games to be between teams who have a bye on one side so they aren't playing on 3 days rest. If they're going to keep Thursday night on NFL Network they have to put more money into those broadcasts. Love NFL Network but the lack of quality in the broadcasts and the bad announcers makes the games unwatchable.

They should also just go to a 60 man roster with no practice squad or active list. They should have a certain amount of 4, 6 or 8 week IRs allowed concurrently in addition to the season ending IR.

 

[moosekill]

Few people are suggesting adding more games.

Mostly the idea is that preseason will be shorter. [It still amazes me that there was a time when the NFL season had SIX pre-season games!]

Um well, from what I have read, they are talking about doing away with two preseason games, not shortening the preseason. They would then add two regular season games, in essence starting at the same time the current regular season starts, as well as adding an extra bye week, hence the three week longer season.

There would probably be a number of scrimages and joint practices but only the two official preseason games.

Once again no one knows currently so it is all conjecture, but there was lots of talk about having Superbowl Sunday fall on the Sunday before Washington's Birthday.

 

[moosekill]

If they are going to do the 18 game schedule they should make it three bye weeks. This would allow for 21 weeks worth of TV and break the season into thirds for the players. It would also allow for the Thursday games to be between teams who have a bye on one side so they aren't playing on 3 days rest. If they're going to keep Thursday night on NFL Network they have to put more money into those broadcasts. Love NFL Network but the lack of quality in the broadcasts and the bad announcers makes the games unwatchable.

They should also just go to a 60 man roster with no practice squad or active list. They should have a certain amount of 4, 6 or 8 week IRs allowed concurrently in addition to the season ending IR.

If you want to break the season into thirds you have two bye weeks, with three bye weeks you break it into quarters.

 

[everlong]

If you want to break the season into thirds you have two bye weeks, with three bye weeks you break it into quarters.

DOH, yes that's what I meant.

 

[moosekill]

I'd like a 47 week season. 4 weeks for playoffs, 1 week for Free Agency and training camp.
Seriously, more football= better

+1

The problem for the football players union is the length of career is so short for professional football players that a year is like 1/5 of the average players career. That is a hell of a lot to give up for some marginal gains. Additionally, there are so many players that are "almost" as good as the current players, players who would give anything to play in the NFL. It is a tough position for the NFL union to be in.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

+1

The problem for the football players union is the length of career is so short for professional football players that a year is like 1/5 of the average players career. That is a hell of a lot to give up for some marginal gains. Additionally, there are so many players that are "almost" as good as the current players, players who would give anything to play in the NFL. It is a tough position for the NFL union to be in.

Expanding the roster makes more union members and more high paying jobs, a good thing.

I for one am irked that teams can't put the best product on the field, can't dress all 53.

 

[goheels22002]

Has anyone mentioned a plan to expand rosters? I understood from a story I read in the Fall of 2010 that an 18-game schedule would be accompanied by an expanded roster of active players and larger practice squads of 8 or 9 guys to give teams more flexibility throughout the longer season and from a NFLPA perspective to create more jobs and union members. Is that being mentioned anywhere?

From the NFLPA's perspective, this would make sense - better benefits, better pay scales for veterans, more jobs. Basic union values.

 

[Water Boy]

Socialism doesn't come easily to billionaires.

You're skating on thin ice Mgtiech. ; ) Don't make me tell on you to the other mods and have you banished to the political forum.

 

[Ron Sellers]

-Players want more pay in exchange for two more games.
-Owners see two more games as additional revenue stream, so they should be willing to concede the players get that percentage.
-Fans win because they pay the same for a real game as they do a preseason game.
-That's a win for all sides involved.

The real issue regarding the 18-game season really comes down to the same real issue involving the CBA negotiations: what percentage of the revenue pie goes to players, and what revenues do (and do not) get included in that pie?

The rest of the stuff is relatively minor in detail:

-Expanding game day rosters from 45 to 53: won't cost the owners any more in salaries; however, would need to consider how this affects service time gained towards becoming a free agent.

-Expanding roster size: this would result in a considerable increase in pay for those players, which would be an additional cost for owners. Would need to address that in terms of salary cap. Could be used as a bargaining chip - i.e., I'll concede this if you give me that.


One thing I hope the union does get is better long term health benefits for former players. Shame on Gene Upshaw with his 'they're not part of the union' attitude. I recall reading a while back that getting disability benefits from the NFL was an almost impossible task for retired players in chronic pain; that should not be the case. Just take an extra 0.01% out for additional health benefits and there is plenty of money for every former player that needs it.