Question on the CBA

[jwhardin]

If the CBA is allowed to expire at the end of the 2006 season, can teams back load contracts and if so what would happen if teams did that and then and new agreement is reached, new salary cap ceiling set and teams wound way over the cap. Just one of the stupid thoughts that pass through my idle brain at times.

 

[NovaCowboy]

Im certainly no expert on the CBA, in fact Adam would be the man to ask but from what I understand if the CBA isnt extended by the end of this coming season then 2007 on are uncapped years until a new agreement is reached.

Could really throw a monkey wrench into everything.

Can you imagine going on a capless spending spree and then having to renegotiate all those contracts once an extension is agreed upon.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Not really sure how all of that would work. Seems to me that teams would turn all of their larger salaries into bonuses and pay them that season.

 

[aznhalf]

Not really sure how all of that would work. Seems to me that teams would turn all of their larger salaries into bonuses and pay them that season.

The teams that can afford it that is. Washington and Dallas would definately be in a good position.

There is a 30% rule that is in place to prevent teams from doing this right now. I don't fully understand it though, so I won't pretend like I do

 

[notherbob]

A new CBA must be agreed to by the first of March this year or some very stringent rules come into play this off-season and there's no cap next year and the players union may not play after the 2007 season and there could be a lockout, etc. It could ultimately get bad if thet don't come to agreement in the next 30 days or so.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

From an NFL.com article : http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9120499

With no Collective Bargaining Agreement extension in sight, the possibility of an "uncapped year" in 2007 is becoming a bigger possibility. If 2007 is in fact an uncapped year, then players hoping to become free agents for the first time that year would be out of luck. To be a free agent in 2007, if it is uncapped, it will require players to be in their sixth year of service. This rule change for an uncapped year will affect the class of 2003 the most, especially those second- and third-round picks who signed four-year deals after the draft...

...In fact, if 2007 becomes uncapped, each club will get an extra transition tag to protect another unrestricted free agent. So the prospect of an uncapped year may sound like a lot of players are coming free, but in actuality it probably means most of the quality players will be off the market.

 

[AbeBeta]

there will never be an uncapped year -- that would kill the parity that the league has fought so hard to develop. like it or not, parity makes more money for the league -- you think having multiple Dallas-Buffalo superbowls was what the league really wanted? no way. you want some different teams in the playoffs every year. that keeps fans in those cities pumped, buying season tickets, NFL gameday, jerseys, etc.

an uncapped year means that those teams with big money owners could just go nuts (e.g., Seattle) while the "poorer" teams couldn't compete. it just isn't going to happen.

 

[NovaCowboy]

there will never be an uncapped year -- that would kill the parity that the league has fought so hard to develop. like it or not, parity makes more money for the league -- you think having multiple Dallas-Buffalo superbowls was what the league really wanted? no way. you want some different teams in the playoffs every year. that keeps fans in those cities pumped, buying season tickets, NFL gameday, jerseys, etc.

an uncapped year means that those teams with big money owners could just go nuts (e.g., Seattle) while the "poorer" teams couldn't compete. it just isn't going to happen.

I dont know tha the league wanted Dallas / Buffalo repeating but the game was tons better when you had 2 super talented teams like the Boys and 9ers fighting it out to get there every year.

 

[Eskimo]

If there is an uncapped year in 2007, expect the rich teams to be very aggressive in signing players and doing contract restructures with very high roster bonuses and salaries in 2007. This could create a large shift in the balance of power.

The interesting thing is that much of the holdup is the small market teams asking for extra compensation from the big market teams - yet by refusing to compromise on the new CBA they risk creating an unbalanced playing field again.

 

[conner01]

you have a better chance of winning the lottery than the nfl having an uncapped year!

 

[Yeagermeister]

If there is an uncapped year in 2007, expect the rich teams to be very aggressive in signing players and doing contract restructures with very high roster bonuses and salaries in 2007. This could create a large shift in the balance of power.

The interesting thing is that much of the holdup is the small market teams asking for extra compensation from the big market teams - yet by refusing to compromise on the new CBA they risk creating an unbalanced playing field again.

I read some where that the league is trying to get a piece of the local advertising revenue also.