Will the Players Agree?

Will the players agree to the owners proposed CBA?  Today, 31 of the leagues 32 owners approved a CBA that included the players getting at least 47 percent of the leagues total revenue until the deals expiration in 2020.  The only team that didn’t approve was the Oakland Raiders.  (You would have to ask Nique and Al Davis about that).

The players vote on the CBA was supposed to take place yesterday.  But, it is being said that all 1900 players were never shown a finalized deal to vote on.  Now reports from alot of NFL players on Twitter is that there was wording in the proposed deal that the players hadn’t agreed to.  But, both sides were supposed to agreed on the major issues in principle.  The owners gave the players until Tuesday to agree to the proposal.  The players still only need one player over 50% to agree to the deal.  Part of the deal is that the players will reconstitute as a union.

Player representatives and the NFLPA started a conference call with league officials on Thursday evening at 8PM.  The owners will open facilities to players on Saturday.  The league officially cancelled the Hall of Fame Game that would’ve been between the Bears and Rams.  Roger Goddell mentioned giving each team the ability to have the same preparation for the first preseason games.  League festivities in Canton (including enshrinement ceremonies) would still take place.

Some of the key points outlined in the owner’s CBA are that it is for ten years until 2020 with no opt out.  Rookie contracts would have an increase in the minimum salary, but would be for four years with a team option for 1st round picks in the 5th. The salary cap would be $12o.4 million. Players would recieve compensation pay if hurt for a year or two. Increased player benefits with an option to stay with the leagues health care even after retirement.  There will be 16 game seasons until 2013 with no increase of regular season games unless approved by the NFLPA.  There will be 10 OTAs as supposed to 14.

It seems like revenue sharing and the rookie wage scale have been agreed upon.  But, many players have voiced a feeling of manipulation by feeling pressured into approving a deal without fully reviewing it. Herm Edwards put it best quoting Cool Hand Luke,”It seems like we have a failure to communicate.”  So, even though the owners started this lockout they now want to force the players to agree through media reports and fan sympathy that they want to get back to football.  I’m sure they want to resume making profit, but by their rules.  However if the players approve by Tuesday and recertify as a union they do have Wendseday through Friday to make a pitch for any additional changes to the owner’s CBA.  The players did not vote on the call this evening or come to any decision about recertifying.