NFL owners and players "closed in on an agreement in principle Tuesday night on an expected 10-year labor contract" that would "ensure that the 16-game regular season starts on time, give owners a bigger portion of revenue and limit how much money rookies can make," according to Judy Battista of the N.Y. TIMES. Sources said that the agreement "would have a wide range of major changes for players and owners." Among these are a "revenue split in which players are expected to receive between 46 and 48 percent of all revenue each year, below the 50-50 formula in the previous deal," and a rookie wage system "in which even the top picks in the 2011 draft could sign contracts worth about half what the top picks signed for in 2010." There also would be "strict limits on the number and intensity of off-season and training camp workouts," and "nearly $1 billion for improved benefits for retired players." The deal "would give the owners what they wanted when they opted out of the old contract more than three years ago -- a bigger slice of the revenue pie, which was more than $9 billion last season." But the agreement "will most likely be viewed as more balanced than the old one, which even players acknowledged heavily favored them." Battista notes players, "who will also re-form the union they dissolved when talks broke off in March, are expected to vote" as soon as today, while the owners "will do the same at a meeting in Atlanta" tomorrow. Training camps "would open over the next week" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/20).
SCHEDULE FOR APPROVAL: In DC, Mark Maske cited sources as saying that NFL and NFLPA attorneys "failed to resolve all the remaining issues" during meetings yesterday in N.Y., but that the two sides "made sufficient progress that they intended to have a draft ready for presentation to the players" today. NFLPA Exec Committee members met yesterday in DC, and they are "to be joined" today by team player reps. That group "could recommend approval of the deal to all NFL players" after today's review. The agreement "would have to be approved by a majority of the close to 2,000 players, and their vote could come by conference call or e-mail as soon as late" today (WASHINGTON POST, 7/20). WQAM-AM's Joe Rose, who played in the NFL from '80-87, said, "When both sides vote, I think the players are a slam dunk." But Yahoo Sports NFL writer Jason Cole responded, "I'm not sure I completely agree with that. There's some disagreement here in the agent community about where the cap is right now, and that may filter down to the players. I ultimately think the players are going to vote yes, but I think there are some agents out there who are going to create a little bit of a ruckus and may ask their guys to vote against it" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 7/19).
NO SPECIAL TREATMENT: In Boston, Ron Borges reports after "several days of debate over possible special relief for at least some of" the 10 plaintiffs in the Brady v. NFL antitrust case, it was "determined it would be too cumbersome to try to work out individual deals." Since the "bulk of the plaintiffs were well-placed NFL veterans, it was decided the best way to go was to stick with the larger deal negotiated between the NFLPA and the league's owners." Borges notes "despite reports to the contrary," Colts QB Peyton Manning, Saints QB Drew Brees and Patriots QB Tom Brady did not ask "for special considerations." Patriots G Logan Mankins also "never asked for a $10 million payout, as was reported in some places" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/20). On Long Island, Bob Glauber reports NFL officials are "adamant that all outstanding legal issues be resolved before a CBA is agreed upon." An NFL source: "That means dropping of all lawsuits. No deal, no CBA. No CBA, the lockout goes on. There will be no partial settlement, opening of training camps and then cleaning up the litigation stuff." A players' source said that he was "optimistic a deal could be done" today (NEWSDAY, 7/20).
TEAM IMPACTS: ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported a "high-ranking" Packers official "adamantly denies reports that the team has notified players to report Saturday in the event the NFL lockout ends." The official said that the team "internally has made contingencies that include contacting players for travel arrangements, because the majority of its players do not reside in the immediate Green Bay area." But the official was "emphatic that players have not been notified, formally or informally, to report to team headquarters Saturday." The report appeared on ProFootballTalk.com Monday (ESPN.com, 7/19). Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Joe Reedy reports Bengals OT and player rep Andrew Whitworth has been in communication with his teammates and has "told them to stay close to their email for any news." Whitworth will explain details of a new CBA to his teammates by taking questions and also addressing the "key points of the deal in an email" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/20).
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Ditka happy to see additions to retired
players' benefits in proposed deal |
RETIREES WON'T STAND IN WAY: In L.A., Sam Farmer reports retired player representatives "participated in seven hours of labor talks" yesterday and said that they "will not try to delay a deal." Pro Football HOFer Carl Eller: "Our issues are very, very critical -- very important -- but they don't really have much to do with whether the game goes on or not" (L.A. TIMES, 7/20). In Chicago, Neil Hayes notes owners and players "have agreed to add $1 billion in benefits to help retired players during the next decade, including $620 million toward pension increases, long-term care insurance and disability benefits to those who played before TV revenue spiked and salaries entered the stratosphere." ESPN NFL analyst and Pro Football HOFer Mike Ditka: "If what they're saying is reality, it's terrific -- it's what it should be. You should take care of the guys who helped make the game what it is. Maybe now I can get out of the business" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/20).
NEW LAWSUIT: TMZ.com reported 75 former NFLers are "suing the NFL, claiming it intentionally concealed the harmful effects of game-related concussions for ninety years." The suit alleges "fraud, negligence and a failure to warn." Riddell, the manufacturer of NFL helmets, is also a defendant. Former NFLers Mark Duper, Ottis Anderson and Rodney Hampton are among the 75 players who filed the suit, which "seeks unspecified damages" (TMZ.com, 7/19).
