The NFL owners and players have NOT come to terms on a deal as you might read from the title (I couldn't think of a better way to word it at this point. However, details are emerging about proposals that might end up resulting in a new CBA. The sides have been bouncing ideas back and forth over the last couple weeks since the conclusion of the Eighth Circuit oral arguments. Fear of one side gaining leverage over the other has led to much more intense negotiations the past two weeks and we seem closer and closer to that final breakthrough that gets pen to paper.
For now here is a basic rundown of where things seem to stand.
- Players get 48 percent of "all revenue," without extra $1-billion-plus off top that previously had been requested by owners.
- Players' share will never dip below 46.5 percent, under new formula being negotiated.
- Teams required to spend minimum 90-93 percent of the salary cap.
- Rookie wage scale part of deal but still being "tweaked."
- 18-game regular season designated only as negotiable item and at no point is mandated in deal.
- New 16-game Thursday night TV package beginning in 2012.
- Owners still will get some expense credits that will allow funding for new stadiums.
- Retirees to benefit from improved health care, pension benefits as revenue projected to double to $18 million by 2016.
It's worth noting that according to media in twitterverse, restricted free agents go back to three years of service time, while four and above would be unrestricted, meaning the 49ers would have a whole bunch of UFAs.
It's my understanding that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pitched the above details to the owners. The owners were set for a one day meeting but had been told it could drag into a second day. However, some of the owners and lawyers at the meeting indicated it would end today and owners would head home from there. We can look at that multiple ways, but I'd like to think it means no owner complained too much about the proposals. If some of the owners had a significant problem with any of this, I'd hope that Goodell and the owners in favor of this deal would not just end the meeting on a negative note like that.
In the meantime, here are some comments from John Clayton and Sal Paolantonio on the owners' meeting today. We'll make sure to update this as more information comes out.