No progress on Labor Agreement

Are you ready for some (uncapped) football?

I'm sure the small market teams aren't...but I know the players are.

That, the minority hiring issue, and a new Thanksgiving tradition game brought to you by NFL Network .... all in Tags "state of the NFL" address: (the AZ Republic article lays out the CBA issue very well)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2002782914_webcommish03.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.tagliabue04feb04,1,824683.story?coll=bal-sports-football&ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0129nfl0129.html

wow, that does not look to good.

from: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0129nfl0129.html

The collective bargaining agreement:

• Was implemented in 1993.
• Extended four times, the current one expires after the 2007 season.
• Had a 2005 salary cap - $85.5 million.
• Will have a 2006 salary cap - estimated to be $95 million. Here's what happens in 2007 if no agreement is reached:
• No salary cap.
• No minimum amount owners must spend.
• A player will need six years, not four, to qualify for unrestricted free agency.
• "Final Eight" plan takes effect The eight teams in the divisional playoffs the previous season will not be permitted to sign unrestricted free agents other than their own, those who have been waived by other teams; or as a replacement for a free agent lost.

The four teams who lose in the divisional round must follow those rules, with a couple of more exceptions: They can sign one additional player who has a first-year salary of $1.5 million or more; and an unlimited number of players who have a first-year salary of no more than $1 million.



This could get really nasty and make some teams want to lock players out. Don't know if a lockout or a strike is likely, but I hope not.

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the players association, didn't respond to interview requests, but he has said numerous times that if there is an uncapped year, there will be no going back.

"I've been to 32 teams, and all the players understand where we are," Upshaw told the Washington Post recently. "They're saying, 'Bring on the uncapped year.' We'll never get the cap back once it goes away."

Click to expand...

I'm not inclined to "nevers," but an uncapped year seems like a real problem. It isn't just the uncapped year but what to do with every contract written in it. Teams could write stupid contract to woo players and how will they get integrated back into a capped system?--all the signing bonus goes in the uncapped year (better resign everyone on the team that year), or pro-rated as normal (to a degree making the uncapped year capped). Seems like guys like Snyder or Davis might have to fight against a new CBA if the "what do we do with last year" negotiations weren't in their favor. These folks do need to get something done.

Bob McNair has stated that he's ready to play in an uncapped system if that's what it comes to. In terms of NFL owners, he's one of the "have's." That being said, I don't want the NFL to turn into MLB.