The NFL wants to get financial issues settled with the NFLPA ahead of Sunday when Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans rookies are now scheduled to begin strength and conditioning training. According to a new report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL is motivated to get come to an agreement before Sunday.
Pelissero says there isn’t an official deadline for the NFL and NFLPA to come to an agreement on outstanding financial issues related to a projected revenue shortfall during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunday could potentially act as an unofficial deadline of sorts.
The NFL is projected to lose billions of dollars due to the pandemic and could lose even more if they had to cancel regular-season games. The NFL maintains that teams and players should account for any shortfall against the salary cap in the next two seasons. The NFLPA is advising its members that they should spread the hit out over the life of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). That choice would have the revenue shortfall impact the salary cap slightly for the next 11 years.
What happens if there’s no deal by Sunday? The CBA contains a no strike/lockout/suit clause. But with no camp schedule agreed to, the NFL could potentially inform clubs that virtual work will continue indefinitely. A big few days ahead. https://t.co/z523QK73CR
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 23, 2020
According to Pelissero’s report, if no agreement occurs before Sunday, the NFL is within its rights to tell teams to continue virtual work indefinitely. That’d mean Chiefs rookies might not be able to get started on strength and conditioning work. Pelissero also says that NFL players are unable to strike or hold a lockout due to a clause within the CBA.
The NFL and NFLPA have a pretty big gap to close on this issue. The owners feel like they’re handing out an interest-free loan to players if they go with the NFLPA’s suggestion. The players feel like NFL teams would be unable to pay talent if the salary cap took such a big hit in 2021 and 2022. Right now, there are no signs of either side budging on the respective opinions of how they should handle financials moving forward.
Buckle up for a potential standoff over this issue as we inch closer to what appears to be an unofficial deadline.
[vertical-gallery id=72909]