During an interview with USA TODAY, NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue brought up the problems pro-rated salary bonuses are
having on the cap. Tagliabue: "We knew that signing bonuses
would be pro-rated, but it was basically an exception to the more
fundamental concept that salaries would be charged to the cap
when earned. Now we have a number of contracts where the
exception is swallowing up the rule, and the system is not
working." On Deion Sanders' disputed contract with the Cowboys:
"[Jerry Jones] is violating the letter of the agreement. The
agreement says that any term of a contract which involves
circumvention of the cap is to be voided" (USA TODAY, 10/27).
Meanwhile, Sanders was interviewed by DALLAS MORNING NEWS
football reporters. Sanders: "They're just making a big deal out
of it because it's myself and Jerry Jones. They should have made
a big deal out of last year's contract. That is the one they
should have looked into -- not this year." Sanders did not
elaborate on his contract with the 49ers. Sanders also said that
he has had preliminary talks with Jones on any possible court-
ordered re-negotiation of his contract (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
10/27).
LABOR TALKS: Tagliabue also said that the dispute over
Deion's contract could affect negotiations between the league and
NFLPA over an extension of the CBA beyond 1999. Tagliabue said
an extension could only come with major changes in the way
signing bonuses apply to the cap (Larry Weisman, USA TODAY,
10/27).
