2011 NFL Lockout News: Rookie Wage Scale Figured Out?

by David Fucillo on Jul 14, 2011 4:16 PM PDT in NFL Labor Issues

ESPN is reporting the NFL's owners and players have come to a tentative agreement in principle on the substance of a rookie wage scale. This is only one aspect of the CBA but if this news holds up it is a significant step forward. Previous news had this being one of the remaining sticking points, so agreement here could be the impetus for a final deal. Albert Breer was quick to tweet that there are still some minor details on the rookie deal but it was hard to see it not working out.

The previous sticking point had been the issue of the fifth year of the contract. The two sides seemed to be working towards a four year rookie contract with a team option for the fifth year. The holdup was over the kind of salaries involved in that fifth year. Previously, owners wanted the option year to be a fixed salary of approximately $4 million. The players wanted a top 10 salary at the position for the top 16 picks and proposed a top 15 salary for picks 17 through 32.

There was some news earlier today that indicated the owners had made a significant concession on the scale, so this would seem to be what has gotten this more positive news out now. I'm curious to see if somebody is quick to throw cold water on the latest round of optimism. PFT predicted it would be Chris Mortensen (mostly just a joke), but Mort was part of this latest report. I'll go with Mike Silver since he seems to enjoy playing the wet blanket role.

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

[site decorum] ya

one small step for the CBA to be done one giant leap for the millions of football fans.

"Hi my name is Cliff Harris and I am here to lock [site decorum] down" - Cliff Harris introduction at his Freshman Orientation
Reporter : "What do you remember about the BCS title game"
Cliff Harris: "That we lost"

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

I'm barely going to be off of my Friday the 15th prediction....darn! Oh well.

Let’s get to it…

Check out my site!!
The Hometown Fan

by Drew Kerr on Jul 14, 2011 4:38 PM PDT reply actions

6 days off

Assuming the owners approve it when they vote a week from today.

by SanFranciscoKnights on Jul 14, 2011 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

They should just lift it now if it's bound to happen anyway.

Let the guys get to work.

Check out my site!!
The Hometown Fan

by Drew Kerr on Jul 14, 2011 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh I had a dream that I was in class the only time I am not on NN nowadays and the deal got signed.

I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. So hopefully they don’t make the deal between 8-12:30 M-F

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 4:49 PM PDT reply actions

I'll let them know ..no deal between 8 - 12.30 M-F no matter what their deal is ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on Jul 14, 2011 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

PST

tell them to sleep in

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

So lets see if I got this strait.

If said player is going on his 5th year, the team-option to keep said player would cost the team a top 10 wage at that position if said player was drafted in the top 16. What if said player is just a good quailty player and doesn’t deserve top 10 money in said position?

The players try to handicap the owners into paying for services not deserved. Yes!, a player could be worthy of top 10 money in said position, but what if he doesn’t. Again, if you have 3 guys at the same position all drafted in the same draft and all getting top 10 money, it drives up the salaries all around.

This is rookie wage scales, not Veterans.

It is nice to see them getting down to buisness. Lets play football.

by ericalancanty on Jul 14, 2011 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

The contracts still aren't guaranteed.

So if the team wants to cut them or restructure a longer deal with a signing bonus and less money per season they can. The key is having lower signing bonuses up front for the top picks and less total guaranteed money.

Twitter: @Joshuahss

by Joshuahss on Jul 14, 2011 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

If saids player is just average , then they don't pick up the option for the fifth year ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on Jul 14, 2011 6:03 PM PDT reply actions

If saids player is just average , then they don't pick up the option for the fifth year ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on Jul 14, 2011 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

Breaking From ESPN

A source with knowledge of the NFL talks told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio on Thursday night that the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement are headed toward a settlement.

Another source said that since the rookie wage system was overcome, the progress has been significant with almost unforeseen momentum, surprising even the participants.

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on Jul 14, 2011 7:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Hopefully the rookies get f’d.

It ruins a franchise to spend that type of money on a #1 pick and then have them bust. It was a joke. This is good for the league.

by MinerNiner on Jul 14, 2011 7:03 PM PDT reply actions

If I was in the players union I'd f over rookies so hard to make more myself.

by MinerNiner on Jul 14, 2011 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

O " boy " ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on Jul 15, 2011 5:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Salary cap to be 120 mil up to 141 with benefits

guess what the owners offered in march. 120 mil up to 141 with benefits.

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 7:15 PM PDT reply actions

Their

also quickly coming to agreements on workers compensation, right to first refusal etc.. Could get done within the next 24 hours,

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on Jul 14, 2011 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions

March

we could’ve been done in March

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

However, there was no real urgency until it became apparent they would lose hundreds of millions if a new CBA wasn’t worked out soon. All about the Benjamin’s man.

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on Jul 14, 2011 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions

wasn't the deal in march the worst deal ever in sports history...

whats different now?

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Money

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on Jul 14, 2011 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions

The deal in general was the worst in pro sports

The players may have made a concession on this portion to get something else in return. There are way to many moving parts in this deal to assume that either side is offering a similar deal to those in the past. I would guess, however, that the deal is far closer to the middle of the original offers than it is to either side’s first offers.

Twitter: @Joshuahss

by Joshuahss on Jul 14, 2011 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Was said to be* (and I highly doubt that was the case).

Twitter: @Joshuahss

by Joshuahss on Jul 14, 2011 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Both sides needed to make concessions for a CBA to be worked out

Is it ideal for either side? No! That is why it will probably be a good collective bargaining agreement moving forward.

Remember for a second the previous impasse in the early 1990s. That CBA they ended up working out created the largest economic, popularity and competitive advancement in the history of professional sports in the United States.

There is no reason to believe that this won’t work out the same way when it is finally agreed to

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on Jul 14, 2011 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha true that

by SanFranciscoKnights on Jul 14, 2011 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions

link?

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jul 14, 2011 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions

it was a tweet

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2011 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

21million seems like alot for benefits.
120million salary cap would be a 8% cut less for the players. would be about 43% vs. the 51% they were getting. 21million, for benefits, is almost 400,000 per player on a 53 man roster.

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jul 14, 2011 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions