NFL owners: Cap not absolutely necessary

[Kaiser Toro]

snippet:

"Analysis that we are going through right now indicates that it is difficult for our clubs to stay up with what we have to pay the players," Goodell told reporters last week at the league's annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. "There are a lot of owners that aren't concerned about an uncapped season from that standpoint because the salary cap is so high right now.

"We will continue to look and make sure we can find a system that works, and my presumption is that there may be some kind of salary cap, there may not be," he added. The league also has a salary floor that is at least 85 percent of the cap.

John York, the San Francisco 49ers owner, called a cap "not absolutely necessary," though like Goodell, he prefaced his comment by saying he preferred one.

Fear of an uncapped season, in part, drove the owners in 2006 to cut a new labor deal that they now say is not economically feasible. Under the collective-bargaining agreement, the last year of the deal is uncapped, which usually gives the owners a great urgency to renew well in advance of that final season. Seen in that light, Goodell's remarks could be a negotiating strategy to convince the union the league is no longer afraid of a future without a cap.

NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw responded in an e-mail, "I never wanted a cap in the first place. And I never will try to sell the players on one again."

Jeff Pash, the league's general counsel who is handling labor talks, said, "If I were the union, I would say that, too. That is the right pressure point to try to urge. If the union said 'no problem if we go to an uncapped year, we will agree to do a cap at some point,' that would change the dynamic. ... The union feels as if the uncapped year is a big pressure point. I don't know if that is right or not."

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffa...1617900&page=1

[Specnatz]

Originally Posted by Luv_ya_blue

I'd like to see the cap removed.

Open it up.

[gtexan02]

No way. And be ruined like baseball? I like any-given-sunday thank you very much. It would effectively kill small market teams

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

No way. And be ruined like baseball? I like any-given-sunday thank you very much. It would effectively kill small market teams

That was my initial thought.

I would think owners would be pushing for a draft similar to the NBA's in the sense of salary structure for rookies. With the ease of injury and pressure for players to perform from the word go, add on veterans should be making more then a guy who hasn't even stepped on the field for a play.

[gg no re]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

No way. And be ruined like baseball? I like any-given-sunday thank you very much. It would effectively kill small market teams

I kinda want to see how far Dan Snyder will go in a capless league....

[Thorn]

cap the salary's of drafted players, but not the team. I have never understood giving an unproven player millions of dollars until they show they can perform. If they show they can be an all-pro and enhance any team they play for, let 'em get the money then, not before.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Thorn

cap the salary's of drafted players, but not the team. I have never understood giving an unproven player millions of dollars until they show they can perform. If they show they can be an all-pro and enhance any team they play for, let 'em get the money then, not before.

I agree. When a rookie walks into camp as the highest paid player on the team, something is wrong with the picture. These guys are getting paid big jack for potential, which takes away resources from paying those that have proven their worth. Often teams must cut veteran players in order to make room for the signing bonuses for unproven players. Whacked out logic, IMO.

[kastofsna]

screw this idea.