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League, players close to extending CBA to 2013
The NFL and the union likely will extend their collective bargaining agreement soon, avoiding a possible salary cap mess.
BY JASON COLE
jcole@MiamiHerald.com
INDIANAPOLIS - The Dolphins and other NFL teams felt relief after Monday's news of progress in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement likely is only days away, avoiding what could have been a complicated situation with the NFL salary cap.
When asked whether there had been progress in the past few days, Jones replied: ``Yes. I feel we'll likely have a deal within... we've got a pretty tight time frame here with the [league] year [starting Friday]. It will be firmed into a situation that will reasonably address the beginning of the league year.''
Jones, who is considered a leader of the high-revenue teams, has been among the key figures in the talks.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw met Monday in Washington to hold further talks and are expected to meet today in New York.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the executive committee of the NFL Management Council, which includes eight owners, will meet in New York.
If an agreement is completed, the current cap rules would stay in place and would be extended through the 2013 season.
That would greatly benefit the Dolphins. Like many teams, the Dolphins were expected to have problems getting under the projected salary cap of between $92 million and $95 million. The rules that would have taken effect without an extension would make restructuring contracts difficult.
An extension of the agreement would ease that. For example, the Dolphins could create approximately $6 million in cap space by guaranteeing and extending the contract of Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, whose salary is scheduled to count for $11 million against the cap in 2006.
The cap for all teams also is expected to be much higher. Last week, Upshaw said the cap could be as high as $104 million with the extension.
That means the Dolphins can retain more veteran players, at least temporarily. For example: Without a CBA extension, left tackle Damion McIntosh and quarterback Gus Frerotte might have been released for salary cap reasons. But now they can remain on the roster, at least until the team gets other players to supplant them or reworks their contracts.
Although the Dolphins have not confirmed how far under the cap they will be, it's apparent that an extension would put them in position to do some significant free agent shopping.
That could include making offers for players such as Saints center LeCharles Bentley, former Jets cornerback Ty Law or Chargers quarterback Drew Brees.
Upshaw said last week that he wouldn't agree to extend the deadline for a new CBA, but others in the NFLPA have indicated that Upshaw was posturing. Jones said something must be at least in writing by Thursday to get an extension of the deadline.
The negative fallout from the extension: The start of the league year, which also is the beginning of the free agency period, likely will be delayed. Free agency is expected to begin March 3 but could be delayed by a week or two.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly said an extension likely would have to delay the start of the league year to read through the cap and examine any changes in the rules.
Also, several other executives with the league and the NFLPA have said it will take time for teams to restructure contracts for players to get under the cap.
League, players close to extending CBA to 2013
The NFL and the union likely will extend their collective bargaining agreement soon, avoiding a possible salary cap mess.
BY JASON COLE
jcole@MiamiHerald.com
INDIANAPOLIS - The Dolphins and other NFL teams felt relief after Monday's news of progress in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement likely is only days away, avoiding what could have been a complicated situation with the NFL salary cap.
When asked whether there had been progress in the past few days, Jones replied: ``Yes. I feel we'll likely have a deal within... we've got a pretty tight time frame here with the [league] year [starting Friday]. It will be firmed into a situation that will reasonably address the beginning of the league year.''
Jones, who is considered a leader of the high-revenue teams, has been among the key figures in the talks.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw met Monday in Washington to hold further talks and are expected to meet today in New York.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the executive committee of the NFL Management Council, which includes eight owners, will meet in New York.
If an agreement is completed, the current cap rules would stay in place and would be extended through the 2013 season.
That would greatly benefit the Dolphins. Like many teams, the Dolphins were expected to have problems getting under the projected salary cap of between $92 million and $95 million. The rules that would have taken effect without an extension would make restructuring contracts difficult.
An extension of the agreement would ease that. For example, the Dolphins could create approximately $6 million in cap space by guaranteeing and extending the contract of Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, whose salary is scheduled to count for $11 million against the cap in 2006.
The cap for all teams also is expected to be much higher. Last week, Upshaw said the cap could be as high as $104 million with the extension.
That means the Dolphins can retain more veteran players, at least temporarily. For example: Without a CBA extension, left tackle Damion McIntosh and quarterback Gus Frerotte might have been released for salary cap reasons. But now they can remain on the roster, at least until the team gets other players to supplant them or reworks their contracts.
Although the Dolphins have not confirmed how far under the cap they will be, it's apparent that an extension would put them in position to do some significant free agent shopping.
That could include making offers for players such as Saints center LeCharles Bentley, former Jets cornerback Ty Law or Chargers quarterback Drew Brees.
Upshaw said last week that he wouldn't agree to extend the deadline for a new CBA, but others in the NFLPA have indicated that Upshaw was posturing. Jones said something must be at least in writing by Thursday to get an extension of the deadline.
The negative fallout from the extension: The start of the league year, which also is the beginning of the free agency period, likely will be delayed. Free agency is expected to begin March 3 but could be delayed by a week or two.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly said an extension likely would have to delay the start of the league year to read through the cap and examine any changes in the rules.
Also, several other executives with the league and the NFLPA have said it will take time for teams to restructure contracts for players to get under the cap.