Owners, Players Targeting July 21 Ratification

[GMScud]

Well they've gotten past the revenue split. Apparently the final issue is the rookie wage scale.

[skinster]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Well they've gotten past the revenue split. Apparently the final issue is the rookie wage scale.

That seems like a non-issue. It seems in the unions and owners best interest to keep that relatively low. With the raised salary floor the money will go to the proven veterans, which is what everybody wants (except a few of the upcoming rookies looking to make top dollar.) I expect this to be more of a collaboration than a competition.

If the rookie wage scale is all thats left, I don't see any reason why it will take untill June 21st to bang out. Two days to negotiate, three more days for the lawyers to write up/review the papers, and one day to check it over and sign. July 21st seems to be stretching what should be happening sooner.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by skinster

That seems like a non-issue. It seems in the unions and owners best interest to keep that relatively low. With the raised salary floor the money will go to the proven veterans, which is what everybody wants (except a few of the upcoming rookies looking to make top dollar.) I expect this to be more of a collaboration than a competition.

If the rookie wage scale is all thats left, I don't see any reason why it will take untill June 21st to bang out. Two days to negotiate, three more days for the lawyers to write up/review the papers, and one day to check it over and sign. July 21st seems to be stretching what should be happening sooner.

I've heard rumors (nothing confirmed) that the extra money from a rookie wage scale would go to retired players as part of the new retirement package. If that's true I think that would be a good idea that could still be improved on. I've read articles that seem to suggest both the owners and the players are trying to push the retired players' needs aside so a deal can get done sooner, and I hope that's not the case.

I don't think that's the case either but if it is that's a damn shame, because retired players who have devoted their lives to the game and now have serious medical bills as a result of it need more assistance than they've been getting.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by skinster

That seems like a non-issue. It seems in the unions and owners best interest to keep that relatively low. With the raised salary floor the money will go to the proven veterans, which is what everybody wants (except a few of the upcoming rookies looking to make top dollar.) I expect this to be more of a collaboration than a competition.

If the rookie wage scale is all thats left, I don't see any reason why it will take untill June 21st to bang out. Two days to negotiate, three more days for the lawyers to write up/review the papers, and one day to check it over and sign. July 21st seems to be stretching what should be happening sooner.

The article posted above claims that the rookie scale issue is not so much about money as it is about whether rookie contracts will be for four or five years.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The article posted above claims that the rookie scale issue is not so much about money as it is about whether rookie contracts will be for four or five years.

Exactly right. The scale issue isn't directly about $, it's about contract length. The players have already agreed to cut rookie wages significantly, but they won't agree to a deal that doesn't allow young players to hit free agency after their fourth year. I think that's fair. If the average NFL career is only around three years, then why make them wait five?

[Ruhskins]

I heard on Football Today that it seems that the owners have dragged this out a little bit. Ross Tucker and Matt Williamson thought that the owners threw the whole first right of refusal out of nowhere. They also talked about the rookie wage scale as being a point of contention as it has been mentioned before.

[MTK]

On rookie wage scale, league, players don’t seem to be squabbling over much | ProFootballTalk

[Alvin Walton]

Heres a tidbit.

Report: NFL owners give significant ground on rookie wage

[NYCskinfan82]

Originally Posted by skinster

That seems like a non-issue. It seems in the unions and owners best interest to keep that relatively low. With the raised salary floor the money will go to the proven veterans, which is what everybody wants (except a few of the upcoming rookies looking to make top dollar.) I expect this to be more of a collaboration than a competition.

If the rookie wage scale is all thats left, I don't see any reason why it will take untill June 21st to bang out. Two days to negotiate, three more days for the lawyers to write up/review the papers, and one day to check it over and sign. July 21st seems to be stretching what should be happening sooner.

All 32 owners have to sign of on it and that is when they will all be meeting.

[mbedner3420]

Originally Posted by NYCskinfan82

All 32 owners have to sign of on it and that is when they will all be meeting.

Only 24 need to sign