Tag: negotiations

Russell Wilson supports LT Duane Brown in contract negotiations

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson supports left tackle Duane Brown in his contract negotiations with the team this offseason.

In the aftermath of Duane Brown’s displeasure at not receiving a contract extension from the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Russell Wilson voiced his thoughts on the matter.

Wilson told reporters that Seattle needs Brown out there protecting him, stating that he is one of the premier left tackles in the NFL and that he is beating Father Time at age 36.

“Not having Duane Brown out there is a pretty significant deal because I think he’s one of the best left tackles in the game, there’s no arguing it,” Wilson said on Sunday. “I think he’s as good as it gets. There’s nobody more athletic, more talented than he is. Age is just a number. He looks like he’s 28-30 out there. He’s really exceptional. So smart and physical, understands the game, and I think people fear him, to be honest with you, when they’re rushing him and playing against him.

“So we definitely want to be able to get him back out there. We’ve got to figure that out because we need Duane Brown.”

Indeed, Brown is a key cog in the offense and has proven he can still play well in his late 30s. It would be ideal to have him around for at least the short-term future, but he will likely desire a lucrative contract as aging players often do, and star safety Jamal Adams has been wanting the same thing this offseason. The Seahawks must have their priorities straight in the coming weeks as the 2021 regular season creeps closer.

“I think he’s got several more years to play,” Wilson continued. “I think he can definitely do it. I don’t think there’s anybody more athletic than him. You see what he can do. And he’s also our leader. He’s a guy who really leads the offensive line, and really, he commands the offensive line and really can set the tone.”

The Seahawks will play their first preseason game against the Raiders on Aug. 14 at Allegiant Stadium at 6:00 p.m. PT.

[lawrence-related id=73935]

Pete Carroll hopeful Jamal Adams’ contract extension will be finalized soon

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is hopeful safety Jamal Adams’ contract extension will be finalized soon as the talks have been amicable.

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams was on the field Wednesday as the team kicked off the first day of training camp although he did not participate in practice.

Coach Pete Carroll was quick to clarify the reason Adams was sitting out was due solely to the fact he is still recovering from his offseason surgeries.

“Well he’s got some stuff that’s in question,” Carroll told reporters after practice. “Shoulder surgery and he had surgery on both hands, so he’s got some stuff that he would be working anyway. He’s getting work here. He wouldn’t be working yet. So it’s OK at this time right now. He’s out there for the walkthroughs, he’s in the meetings and all that kind of stuff, he’s doing everything.”

Carroll is also hopeful Adams’ contract extension will be finalized in the near future. Talks with the safety have been amicable and ongoing for some time.

“He’s in a good place,” Carroll said. “They’ve worked really hard to this point. I’m very hopeful that it’s going to get taken care of here soon, very soon.”

[listicle id=73736]

How far apart are Alvin Kamara and the Saints in contract talks?

The New Orelans Saints and superstar running back Alvin Kamara are reportedly not too far apart in contract talks, but it could fall apart.

[jwplayer KG78n8io-ThvAeFxT]

Well, that escalated quickly. On Monday, ESPN reported that Alvin Kamara had missed three practice sessions in what may have been an in-house holdout related to his ongoing contract negotiations with the New Orleans Saints.

On Tuesday, NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that the Saints would consider trading Kamara; a report backed up by The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan, which said that the Saints would move Kamara if they can’t reach an agreement on a contract extension. Duncan added that the Saints would seek a first round draft pick in trade compensation.

So how far apart are they? Nick Underhill reported for NewOrleans.Football that proposals from the Saints and Kamara’s representatives are “about $2 million apart” in per-year salary. FOX 8 NOLA’s Sean Fazende reported that the latest offer from the Saints averaged slightly more than $12 million per year.

That would suggest Kamara’s seeking roughly $14 million per year, which is what Joe Mixon earned in his recent Cincinnati Bengals contract. But Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported that the Saints view this new Mixon deal “as a starting point,” and that they’re comfortable paying him him north of $12 million per year — but that Kamara is pushing for the $16 million in earnings Christian McCaffrey receives from the Carolina Panthers.

Some clarity on the trade buzz came from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who reported after a conversation with Kamara and his agent that any trade interest is coming from the other side of the bargaining table, not from them. Rapoport added that Kamara has not threatened a holdout or avoied the practice facility; previous NFL Network reports said that Kamara was dealing with a minor injury, causing him to miss practice.

The truth of it all probably falls somewhere in the middle. We’re speculating here, but after reviewing all of the different reports, it appears the Saints were willing to bump their offer up to $14 million (matching Mixon) from $12 million, which Kamara’s camp previously wanted. But that $2 million gap remained after Mixon raised the market, and now Kamara might be pressuring the Saints into approaching $16 million, which prompted the Saints to open up to trade possibilities. Maybe.

It’s a tough situation to navigate on its own, much less when you’re doing so with a bunch of tweets and media reports that are all, at best, secondhand information. The only certainty here is that the Saints aren’t that far apart in negotiating a new contract from what Kamara desires — it’s just a matter of which side blinks first, or if the Saints decide this close to the finish line that they actually want to blow it all up. We’ll see what happens next.

[vertical-gallery id=37385]

REPORT: Saints’ Alvin Kamara has 3-day unexcused absence, possibly contract-related

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara missed three days of training camp practice in an unexcused absence amid contract negotiations.

The New Orleans Saints got the ball rolling on a contract extension with Alvin Kamara nearly two weeks ago, but Kamara appears to be doing what he can to push things towards the finish line. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Kamara missed three days of training camp practices, which is believed to be related to ongoing contract talks with the Saints.

Progress on a Kamara contract extension was backed up by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, who reported that negotiations have progressed over the last week. Kamara missed two practice sessions early last week with a stomach virus before taking an unexplained absence, which Saints coach Sean Payton declined to comment on after Monday’s practice.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Kamara offered his stance on a potential extension back on Aug. 10, saying: “Me and my agent talked briefly about it and I said, ‘Don’t tell me anything about a contract until it’s like something where it’s happening or if it’s something that I need to know,’ other than that, like if I was my own agent then I’d have everything to tell you guys about a contract, but I’m not. I don’t talk upstairs about contracts, I don’t talk to coaches about contracts. I’m just here to do my job.”

Hammering out a new deal for Kamara and the Saints is a tricky process. He’s played just as efficiently as Christian McCaffrey and the game’s other top-paid running backs, but Kamara hasn’t been able to match them in sheer volume. He was also hobbled by a 2019 knee injury, raising concerns about his long-term durability. But there’s no doubting whether he’s as talented as any other runner you’ll find around the league.

This is a rapidly-developing situation, and a quasi-holdout like this by Kamara could expedite things; the strategy worked for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram, who secured a $14 million guaranteed salary after sitting out several days of work. Keep an eye out for updates in the days ahead.

[vertical-gallery id=37385]

No talks scheduled between NFL and NFLPA as of now

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have many protocols to iron out before the start of the season, but no talks are scheduled as of now.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have a lot to discuss – including how and when to start the 2020 season. However, it looks like no talks are scheduled between the two sides, as of now.

“As of now (12:44 pm ET), there are no formal talks scheduled between NFL and NFLPA today on reopening protocols, though obviously that could change,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweeted Wednesday. “NFLPA is having an internal call this afternoon to discuss its response, and is also having a call this afternoon to update agents.”

The players’ union sent its response to league regarding major economic concerns, including the specifics of opt-outs for the season. States experiencing major surges in the virus could shut down once again, barring any gathering over 10, making training camps nearly impossible to hold.

“The NFL sent a response Tues night to the NFLPA’s proposal on reopening protocols,” Graziano continued in the thread. “Still no agreement. Players still want daily testing, elimination of preseason games and for COVID to be classified as a football injury. (Non Football Injury List allows team to not pay a player.)”

This story is continuing to develop.

[lawrence-related id=65302]

Supernova: Cowboys, NFL top salaries set to explode over next decade

It’s. About. To. Go. Down. Or up. The NFL is working on a new CBA, but the TV deal negotiations are going to have just as big an impact.

It takes two to tango. Last February, I penned an article saying the Dallas Cowboys would be wise to pony up $203 million in a new deal for quarterback Dak Prescott. Over the seven yearsof the proposed deal, it worked out to an average salary of $29 million per season, which would have made him the second-highest paid player in the league at the time. Projections at the time were calling for Prescott to earn, $22 million or so. A outlier here or there said $26 million. $29 million was a huge leap at the time.

While the supporting evidence was meticulously prepared, there was a large contingent of comments (OK, mostly on Facebook) which scoffed and panned the idea as ludicrous. One year later, Prescott ascended as his first-three-year stats predicted and the market continued to explode to the point $29 million a season would now be a monumentally huge coup for the Cowboys. The annual salary conversation is now in the $33 million to $36 million range thanks to new deals for Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz before last season even began.

Most think new deals coming for Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson will leave these recent deals in the dust, and they will, but for more reasons than most realize. The NFL salary scale is likely about to take NBA style leaps.

Reports have the 2020 salary cap at close to $200 million. That’s almost a $12 million increase from what it was in 2019. Over the last six years, the salary cap has jumped by at least $10 million every season. And those gains are about to be made to look minuscule.

The NFL is desperately trying to get a new CBA agreed to by the players. The current one doesn’t expire until the end of the season, but labor peace is certainly in the best interest of the league.

Strategically, the new television deals will be negotiated to begin the 2022 season, a full calendar year after the new CBA deadline. This is for an obvious reason.

Over the course of the current CBA, the salary cap rose 66.7% from 2011 to 2020.

Year

Maximum team salary
2020 $200 million (projected)
2019 $188.2 million
2018 $177.2 million
2017 $167.00 million
2016 $155.27 million
2015 $143.28 million
2014 $133 million
2013 $123 million
2012 $120.6 million
2011 $120 million

The last TV deal, signed in December 2011 for $27 billion, was done less than six months after the current CBA was agreed upon. It was a 60% increase from the previous agreement.

TV deals, not stadium tickets and concessions (that they make a killing off of already) is what drives the cash cow of sports. Live sports is the one reason people still tune in across the country, giving sports league the latitude to command ransoms for the rights to broadcast them.

Look at the important points from the new CBA. A 17th game, two additional playoff games. These are done so that they can charge even more exorbitant prices for the TV packages of course. It’s good business.

Similar growth would put the next deal at around $43.2 billion, and that’s without the proposed 16 additional regular season games and two additional post-season contests. At least.

What it will do to the salary cap is something the NFL fandom isn’t prepared for.

It’s going to make all of these arguments about whether or not the Cowboys should pay Prescott $33 million or $36 million look silly in retrospect.

In October 2014, the NBA signed a new nine-year, $24 billion TV deal with ESPN and TNT.

Here’s a look at the top-5 NBA salaries for the 2014-2015 season.

  1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers, $23.5 million
  2. Joe Johnson, Nets, $23.2 million
  3. Carmelo Anthony, Kicks, $22.5 million
  4. Dwight Howard, Rockets, $21.4 million
  5. Chris Bosh, Heat, $20.6 million

Here’s a look at the top-5 NBA salaries for the 2019-2020 season, just five years into the new TV deal.

  1. Steph Curry, Warriors, $40.2 million
  2. Chris Paul, Thunder, $38.5 million
  3. Russell Westbrook, Rockets, $38.5 million
  4. John Wall, Wizards, $38.1 million
  5. Kevin Durant, Nets, $38.1 million

The top base salary in the NBA rose 71% in five years because of the flood from new TV revenue. Bryant’s league-leading salary from 2014-2015 would rank No. 47 today. There are now 162 players in the NBA making at least $8 million a season, compared to 80 in 2014; more than double.

The same thing is about to go down in the NFL.

With similar growth, we could be looking Trevor Lawrence or some 2021 pick commanding an average salary between $50 million to $60 million a season once they are eligible to renegotiate their rookie deal.

Savvy agents know what is about to go down; they are as in tune as anyone with the financial forecasts for the league that continuously dominates the Nielsen ratings like no other (link). There was a reason why Prescott signed on with CAA’s Todd France in advance of working on his next agreement, after being woefully underpaid for his rookie contract and having no recourse catch up.

The Cowboys, probably more than any other organization, have known where this thing is headed. There’s a reason they want to lock Prescott in for six-to-seven years. There’s a reason Prescott wants multiple millions more in average salary for a long deal as opposed to one for only four years.

NFL salaries are likely going to explode over the next decade.

The league’s proposal of the new league minimums hints at this, for anyone reading between the lines.

Those new numbers are eye candy compared to the current $15,000, year-by-year increases to the minimums, intended to convince the rank and file of the NFL to ratify the CBA, but the 60% of the league that make the minimum are going to be left woefully behind by the high pedigree players who sign their deals in 2023 and beyond. The gap between each team’s four or five star players and the other 50 players on the roster is going to grow larger as teams will continue to have a large percentage of their rosters on rookie deals.

For instance, in 2020 under the current CBA the highest-paid player (Wilson, for now) will make 42.7 times as much as a 4-to-6 year veteran on the minimum salary.

If the cap makes the projected growth detailed above and a QB is making $60 million a year, which again is based on projections without adding the extra games, they will be making 51.3 times as much as the 4-to-6 year vet on the minimum.

I talk about it all the time, but the league is always one up on the players. Somehow, every CBA they get away with not counting all of the revenue in the calculations they hysterically title “all revenue”. The league skims about 10% of their actual intake off the top before even giving the players their less than 50%. Andrew Brandt goes into beautiful detail on the myriad of ways the players get screwed over.

Whether or not they show the fortitude to demand bigger pieces of the pie will come to light in the next days, weeks or months.

[vertical-gallery id=640098][vertical-gallery id=639104][lawrence-newsletter]

There could be possible NFL labor peace in our time

Last offseason and through the 2019 regular season there was some talk about the upcoming CBA negotiations. The NFLPA was telling players to start stashing away checks in case of a prolonged work stoppage. The league was pushing for an increase in …

Last offseason and through the 2019 regular season there was some talk about the upcoming CBA negotiations. The NFLPA was telling players to start stashing away checks in case of a prolonged work stoppage. The league was pushing for an increase in regular-season games and wasn’t going to take no for an answer. There was serious commentary about a work stoppage and since we already saw one — well kind of — in the last round of negotiations, there was a possibility we could end up without football. That would be sad.

Now, for the good news: no one seems to want to kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs. There is some serious momentum that not only will there be no work stoppage, but that the NFL and NFLPA could come to an agreement before the CBA even expires.

There’s no way to look at other than this is good news. The owners and players understand that the quicker they can come to a deal, the quicker they can get down to real business, like dominating negotiations with streaming partners and traditional content distributors. Basically, the goal is to rake in money hand over fist and then make sure it’s distributed based on a negotiated percentage outlined in the CBA.

The deal is rumored to run from 2020 until after the 2029 season. That’s 10 years of labor peace. That’s a good deal. For 10 years we won’t have to worry about lockouts, strikes, and no football. We will get a new NFL, one that probably hasn’t 17 games and an expanded playoff. Players will know that for the foreseeable future, they will be able to use their enormous skills and talent to make money. The owners will be even happier because they will be able to negotiate with television partners, focus on the upcoming gambling revolution, and make a ton more money because that’s what happens when you own a football team. The league should see a jump in franchise valuation because that’s what happens when there are labor peace and certainty.

So let’s hope this momentum holds. No one likes hearing about work stoppages. It’s an ugly part of the game. No fan wants to think that there might not be football next year. We already miss it now.