Kirwan: What to expect in an uncapped year

[WoodysGirl]

Feb. 10, 2006) -- There is a chance that 2007 will be an uncapped year if the collective bargaining agreement doesn't get extended. The closer we get to the start of this year's free agency, the more we will hear about an uncapped season in 2007 and the ramifications of such a situation. So I thought it might be a good idea to let the readers know what an uncapped year means, since the term is getting mentioned in the media on a daily basis.

1. If 2007 is uncapped, then qualifying free agents can be paid as much as can be negotiated. This sounds great for the players, but who are the qualifying free agents?
2. The rules to become a free agent change in an uncapped year. To become free, a player will need six years of service instead of four years and his contract has to be expired.
3. A player with five years of experience who under capped season rules would have been free, will now be a restricted free agent if the club decides to designate him as restricted. Quality players with five years of service will be restricted and not many teams will be willing to surrender high draft picks for them. A player waiting for his big 'free agency' contract with a nice fat signing bonus will probably play for a one-year salary with no signing bonus and risk a career ending injury.
4. The same rules apply to players with four years of service to those players with five years as mentioned in point No. 3. The group of potential free agents will be significantly reduced in 2007 because of the loss of four- and five-year players. The best players from the 2002 and 2003 draft classes will not be moving around too much in 2007.
5. If that isn't bad enough for the players hoping to hit the market, each club will also get an additional 'transition tag' to protect an older veteran. As long as the club offers a player in this category a one-year contract for the average of the top 10 players at his position, the franchise retains his rights unless another club wants to give significant draft compensation. Figure the top 32 veterans (one per club) who was supposed to hit free agency will now be tagged.

Just from points Nos. 3, 4, and 5, there should be very few quality free agents in 2007 if it is uncapped. My best guess is that 70 percent of the players who warrant big contracts because of their 2006 production and their age will be off the open market.

Link

 

[Hostile]

Interesting read. Thanks.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Interesting read. Thanks.

It also explains why Gene Upshaw and NFLPA don't want CBA to end. Thats lots of players losing out on great deal money, if CBA is not extended. No wonder, its the owners that really hold upper hand in this deal, and it really does seems like Owners not agreeing on the revenue sharing part, that really is holding up and not the NFLPA.

 

[Nors]

This is clearly and obviously the single most important issues facing the Commisioner. This is not the owners versus the players. Players union is threatening actions as owners aren't dealing with them.

This is the really have owners versus the have owners. Pretty big issue on the plate.

 

[aikemirv]

Will it make it harder to sign FA's this year because of an uncapped year next year?

The reason I ask is because next year is an uncapped year their salaries cannot increase more than 30% from year to year which would make a low 1st year salary with a big signing bonus very hard to accomplish.

 

[Nors]

Less years to spread out signing bonus......

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

This is the really have owners versus the have owners. Pretty big issue on the plate.

I think you meant to say "This is the really have owners versus the have-NOT owners...", but anyway, I get your point, and I do agree somewhat. An uncapped year offeres clubs the opportunity to tag older players, which should favor playoff teams who now can afford to hold onto players they may otherwise lose over cap reasons.

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