NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw met with a "handful of big-name
player agents" last Tuesday in Dallas to discuss the proposed
extension to the NFL's present CBA. The union and league want
"labor peace" beyond '99 when they head into talks for their next
TV contract in '98. Since the union "took quite a bit of heat
from players and agents during the initial stages" of the
implementation of the '93 CBA, Upshaw has been traveling around
the country talking with players and agents (Timothy Smith, N.Y.
TIMES, 10/22).
DEION TALK: The NFL has notified Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones
that his team is over the cap "and had better make an adjustment
pronto." Under the present CBA, a team is not allowed to play a
game if it is over the cap. This was the bye week for the
Cowboys, "which is why the league office chose it to bring the
Deion Sanders contract matter to a head." Jones maintains
Sanders should cost him $2.02M per season against the cap, while
the league says the figure should be $3.39M (Will McDonough,
BOSTON GLOBE, 10/22).
INSTANT REPLAY: NBC's Will McDonough conducted a poll for
"NFL on NBC" that showed the Cardinals, Bills, Bears, Bengals,
Cowboys, Giants, and Bucs against using instant replay. The
Panthers, Lions, Chiefs and Jets are "leaning against." NBC's
Joe Gibbs: "It's crazy not to use every tool we can to help
officials who do make mistakes." NBC's Mike Ditka: "What's best
for the league is what the fans want, and the fans want instant
replay" (NBC, 10/22).
