http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/14/league-proposes-immediate-changes-to-rookie-pay/ In December 2008, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the current system for changing rookie pay would not change until 2011. Apparently, there's been a calendar malfunction at 280 Park Avenue. Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the league has proposed the implementation of a rookie wage scale for the April 2010 draft. She also reports that the NFLPA has responded with a proposal that would change the structure of the rookie deals beginning in 2010, too. The league's proposal, per Mullen, would pay players a fixed amount based on draft slot, with a "significant" portion of the savings being distributed to retired players. The NFLPA responded Tuesday with a proposed three-year limit on rookie contracts, along with a two-year extension to the current labor deal and a commitment by the owners to match the payment to the retired players arising from the contribution flowing from the savings in rookie pay. It's safe to assume that the league won't agree to an extension of the labor contract merely in order to cap rookie pay. The owners are poised and motivated to attempt to make major changes to the system for paying all players, and there's a sense on the management side of the table that the players are on the ropes. A request to hit the pause button for two years will do little to alter that perception. The league apparently would like to work out a new system for paying rookies separate and apart from the broader labor deal. The union surely would prefer to resolve all issues at once. The situation has little relevance to players currently trying to decide whether to give up any remaining college eligibility, since a change in 2010 will affect them regardless of whether they come out now or later. But given the chance that the slowly-falling stone door won't hit the floor before April, some players might decide to try to slide under it by leaving school now. No more Gholston deals if this happens. Nice to know part of the money saved would go to retired players.
"and a commitment by the owners to match the payment to the retired players arising from the contribution flowing from the savings in rookie pay." Could someone explain this in english I can understand please? I really don't care if this goes through now or in 2011... Actually I wouldn't mind if it got delayed since this year we aren't going to spend big money on the draft anyways... But I agree with what the league is proposing in principle.
There is no way teams would agree to a three year limit on rookie contracts. Would they then be RFA's after the contract ends? Then maybe.
Make all players not signed to contracts free agents. When a player's contract expires he becomes a free agent. Do away with the salary cap altogether. Do away with the NFL draft altogether. The free market. It works for almost everything else, it should work just fine for professional sports. To those arguing that the big market teams would grab all the stars: well it's kind of hard to grab another young QB at $50 million for 4 years when you already are paying your starter $100 million for 4 years, and that's what the top QB's would be getting. Some teams might choose to do that but then it's really hard to pay your DE's, LT's, etc at that point. Maybe a very rich team could make money off of a $400 million dollar payroll, but Jerry Jones would spend $150 million on players and pocket the other $250 million every time. Without a draft no team could stockpile players without exposing them to the free market. It'd be expensive as hell to stockpile them in open free agency.
You want to uncap the league and get rid of the draft? :drunk: The NFL is the best run league of all the 4 major sports in North America. No reason to do any of that shit.
Under that mentality, we'd owe Darrelle Revis, David Harris, Nick Mangold and Leon Washington a shitload of money next year. I don't like the idea of three year contracts.
And we'd owe Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller jackshit. It would even itself out. I'm sure the FO is more than willing to pay those who perform.
Well I think we'll agree to disagree about Dustin Keller's future value, but in no way would resigning the best corner in the league, the best center in the league, one of the best third down backs in the league and one of the best linebackers in the league equal the savings we would receive from jettisoning Vernon Gholston. BTW, D'Brick needs to get paid, too.
I think Keller will earn his contract, but to this point hasn't. I like Keller. Regarding your second point, if the Jets can't sign all their stars long term, other teams won't be able to keep all of theirs either. It would even itself out, I think the NFL is really good in that all teams are able to compete in free agency. The cap is, what? $110 million right now? After the new CBA, it'll be bigger. I think we could fit 4 huge long term huge deals into that budget.
