By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
The prospect of a revised NFL collective bargaining agreement appears closer to reality as owners and players haggle over the vexing issue of compensation for first-round draft picks. The two sides holed up Monday in New York to expedite resolution of the four-month lockout in order to preserve the 2011 regular season and perhaps the entire preseason.
By Mark J. Terrill, AP
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton could end up with a lot less than last year's No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, if the rookie wage scale changes.)
By Mark J. Terrill, AP
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton could end up with a lot less than last year's No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, if the rookie wage scale changes.)
In an ideal scenario, the owners might be able to ratify a deal at their July 21 meeting in Atlanta. That would allow the first preseason game Aug. 7 between the Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Rams to avoid cancellation, in all likelihood.
Negotiations are scheduled to continue this week in an effort to save the entire 2011 season, including each team's four preseason games. Those games remain important sources of income for owners, representing 20% of ticket revenue.
That a labor agreement could be signed before any games were canceled doesn't surprise Gary Roberts, dean of sports law at Indiana University.
"This was absolutely predictable,'' said Roberts, an NFL Network legal analyst who forecast almost a year ago that the NFL labor tussle would end in August. "Neither side was going to let the season go ? everyone is making too much money. It would have been insanity for either side to throw away this $9.5 billion pot. This was a script written a year ago. There is nothing surprising or exciting about any of this."
While the two factions have not agreed on much since the lockout began in March, they appear to be in accord on one thing ? a rookie salary structure that eliminates enormous guaranteed contracts for top draft selections.
A year ago, the Rams gave quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall selection, $50 million in guarantees, a record sum. Representatives for the owners and players have exchanged various proposals in hopes of reaching agreement on the rookie pay issue.
One example, according to an ESPN report citing people familiar with the negotiations: A No. 1 overall draft pick would earn $34 million in five years, including a team option for the fifth season. In the current system, that number could be $78 million through six seasons.
This year's top draft pick, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, could see a drastic reduction in guaranteed money when he signs with the Carolina Panthers. ESPN reported that the players have agreed to slice rookie money by as much as 50% as long as rookies can become free agents after four seasons. Owners want to wrap up players for five seasons with one exception relating to quarterbacks, the network said.
"There has to be a trade-off if the owners are pushing on (less) guaranteed money," agent Joe Linta said. "Players need less onerous restrictions on the length of their contracts. The bottom line is that the owners cannot have it both ways."
ESPN also reported that a document called "The Transition Rules" specifies an orderly procession for teams once the lockout ends. One of the most important provisions is the time frame for making free agents eligible to sign, which the network reported as July 28.
The chief obstacle ? division of $9 billion-plus in revenue ? appears settled with the sides in virtual agreement on the players receiving 48% of gross proceeds initially.
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