NFL Proposes Immediate Change to Rookie Pay

• h2thaizzo

  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/14/league-proposes-immediate-changes-to-rookie-pay/
  
  This would be HUGE if they can get this passed. 1st thing people will think is that players will never agree to it. However, this would affect no current NFL players, as they have already signed their rookie contracts, would only affect this years draft class and the future classes, who, since they are not NFL players as of yet, are not represented by the NFLPA. If this goes through, I think teams will have more flexibility to pay veterans better across the board, maybe not Albert Haynesworth type deals, but there will be less low-ball (Cribbs) offers in general.
  
  This would ultimately be the best thing to happen to the NFL in years. Pay the guys that have proven their worth, and let the rookies earn their contracts.
• queencitybuckeye

  Professional sports and prostitution are two of the very few fields where you can start at the top.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  As it is highly unlikely the CBA will be extended into next season, I don't see anything like this getting approval.
  
  A rookie salary schedule makes perfect sense when you have a salary cap as well, but the NFL is letting its cap expire after this season.
  
  Unless they get a new agreement in place by something like mid March, next year will be uncapped.
  
  I'm afraid a lockout is looming for the 2011 season as owners and players knock heads.
• h2thaizzo

  queencitybuckeye wrote: Professional sports and prostitution are two of the very few fields where you can start at the top.

  lol. Well pro football yes. Basketball no, baseball, only if you're Mark Prior or Steven Strausberg.
• justincredible

  

  Do it! Rookies should NOT be given ridiculous contracts before they play a single down in the NFL.
• hasbeen

  

  I didn't read the article yet, but if it keeps the rookie pay scale from making teams not want the #1 pick, then it is definitely needed.
• MANAZE

  

  sounds good. no other work field do you get that kind of pay over current employees anywhere else.
• h2thaizzo

  Writerbuckeye wrote: As it is highly unlikely the CBA will be extended into next season, I don't see anything like this getting approval.
  
  A rookie salary schedule makes perfect sense when you have a salary cap as well, but the NFL is letting its cap expire after this season.
  
  Unless they get a new agreement in place by something like mid March, next year will be uncapped.
  
  I'm afraid a lockout is looming for the 2011 season as owners and players knock heads.

  Actually this being passed would likely mean not much would have to change from the previous CBA in order for everyone to be happy. For instance, last season Matthew Stafford went 1st overall, received 72 million in a contract, and had 41 of that guaranteed before he even plays a down in the NFL. Lets just say that the league does what this proposal states, and sets a cap for each draft pick, and the #1 pick can only get 15 million guaranteed in a deal. That's just saved the team a ton of money that before, would have had to go to the rookie just drafted, and not have gone to the current players looking for a new contract. If they do this, then it won't completely help out the CBA, but it will be a major starting point to getting everyone on the same page.
• IggyPride00

  

  The players will not do anything outside the context of the CBA agreement in terms of the CBA as agreeing to a rookie cap is one of the players biggest concessions they are willing to make, and the current players are never going to just give that away for a retirement fund in exchange.
  
  We are headed for a lockout of epic proportions and there is not going to be a 2011 season.
  
  The union has already said if the owners opted out and chose to play a year without a cap, they will never agree to a salary cap again in future CBA's.
  
  The biggest battle though is going to be fought over the owners who want to plead poor and seek major concessions on lowering any future salary caps.
  
  The players union head has said publicly that the owners are going to have to open up all the financial books before they will even consider that, and Roger Goodell has said in no uncertain terms that is not happening.
  
  We are headed for a long and protracted lockout, because there is a huge canyon between what both sides think is realistic for a new deal.
  
  You would think that both sides are stupid enough to kill the golden goose, but we have seen a major work stoppage in every other sport the past 20 years so the NFL is due.
• bases_loaded

  

  The people of this country will not forgive the league or players for a lockout in these economic times. It will be the end of the league if they have a lockout.
• sjmvsfscs08

  "End of the league?" That's laughable.
• Al Bundy

  bases_loaded wrote: The people of this country will not forgive the league or players for a lockout in these economic times. It will be the end of the league if they have a lockout.

  People would be upset, but it won't end the league. If the players were to strike, look for the owners to use replacement players like they did in 1987 to break the union. NFL players only have 3-4 years for the average player. When it comes down to it, most of them will not being willing to give up too much salary. If you can only play for 4 years, are really going to be willing to give up at a minimum several hundred thousand dollars a season? Do you know how long it would take the players at any other job that they can get to make that much?
• IggyPride00

  

  People would be upset, but it won't end the league. If the players were to strike, look for the owners to use replacement players like they did in 1987 to break the union. NFL players only have 3-4 years for the average player. When it comes down to it, most of them will not being willing to give up too much salary. If you can only play for 4 years, are really going to be willing to give up at a minimum several hundred thousand dollars a season? Do you know how long it would take the players at any other job that they can get to make that much?

  People will not pay to watch replacement players, and you can bet the Networks will do everything in their power to make it clear to the owners that is not a realistic alternative as they pay billions every year in broadcast rights for NFL players, not scabs.
  
  Many of these owners are leveraged financially in a way they can't afford a lockout given their financial commitments much more than the players can afford a strike.
• Al Bundy

  IggyPride00 wrote:

  People would be upset, but it won't end the league. If the players were to strike, look for the owners to use replacement players like they did in 1987 to break the union. NFL players only have 3-4 years for the average player. When it comes down to it, most of them will not being willing to give up too much salary. If you can only play for 4 years, are really going to be willing to give up at a minimum several hundred thousand dollars a season? Do you know how long it would take the players at any other job that they can get to make that much?

  People will not pay to watch replacement players, and you can bet the Networks will do everything in their power to make it clear to the owners that is not a realistic alternative as they pay billions every year in broadcast rights for NFL players, not scabs.
  
  Many of these owners are leveraged financially in a way they can't afford a lockout given their financial commitments much more than the players can afford a strike.

  Most of the season ticket packages will still be sold because people will not be willing to lose their season tickets. The replacement players will break the union just like in 1987. In 1987 a few veterans started to cross the picket line after the first week, and the strike was broken in 3 weeks. Many rookies may cross the picket line because most of them have very little money except for their NFL contract. The only players that could strike for a long a time would be veterans who are to a point in their career that they don't need the money. If you are a player that is borderline even making a roster (many are in the NFL), would you be willing to go on strike when there are hundreds of guys almost as good as you to take your place?
• osu99

  I know some of the vets hate that rookies can come in and make so much for having proven nothing. I hope they change it.
• darbypitcher22

  

  Wonder if a bunch of early entrants would pull out if this happened...
• Al Bundy

  darbypitcher22 wrote: Wonder if a bunch of early entrants would pull out if this happened...

  Isn't it past the date that they can return to college?
• thavoice

  Look for this to happen......
  
  I think the players are in agreement on a rookie pay scale. They know if there is still a cap that it will continue to go up with revenues so that means more money for the veterans. So..I think that is something they will give in to....but that is their trump card. Owner want this BAD and the players know it. They will ask for something big in return...and Im thinking it will be more guarentees in contracts. Other sports have more guarentees than NFL players do.
  
  So..ulitmately I think a rookie cap comes into play..and it should be. No erason those guys should be makin tons of money without proving themselves but look for the owner to have to give upsomething big as well.
  
  on a side note...I think the owners know that the players would be willing to part with this so may not offer the 'big fish' in their negotiations.