Tag: NFL CBA

Panthers S Tre Boston blasts NFLPA: ‘Who’s negotiating for us???’

Boston is not alone in his criticism of the NFLPA leadership.

Perhaps it’s a product of being overlooked on the field, but NFL safeties seem to go harder at it than most when it comes to their money. As the league negotiates the start of the 2020 season with the NFLPA, some tensions are flaring over what might happen if games are stopped.

Responding to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network that said no play, no play is on the table, Panthers safety Tre Boston blasted the NFLPA,  saying they are acting like a court-appointed lawyer and they have some things to explain.

Boston is not alone in his criticism of the NFLPA leadership.

Former Carolina safety Eric Reid seemed furious over the failure to protect disabled players’ benefits, which were gutted.

Panthers left tackle Russell Okung has also taken issue with how the union leadership negotiated the CBA, even filing a lawsuit that was eventually dismissed by the NLRB.

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Expanded roster rules could help Jets maneuver Joe Flacco’s injury timetable

The NFL’s new expanded roster rules can help the Jets maneuver Joe Flacco’s timetable in case he’s not ready for the 2020 season.

The NFL’s new expanded roster rules could help the Jets with Joe Flacco in 2020.

Flacco underwent neck surgery in April, but he probably won’t be ready to play until September. If the NFL season kicks off on time in mid-September and Flacco isn’t cleared by the team, the Jets are going to have to shuffle around their quarterback room.

That would mean David Fales or James Morgan serving as Darnold’s backup, with the other being the third-string. In a scenario in which Flacco isn’t ready for the start of the season, the Jets could opt to go with four quarterbacks at the beginning of the year.

Luckily for the Jets, the NFL expanded rosters under the new CBA. On gameday, the roster size now maxes out at 48 players after previously being set at 46 players. However, one of those extra players has to be an offensive lineman.

As for the practice squads, those rosters increased from 10 players to 12 players in 2020. Teams can also bring two players from their practice onto the active roster per week. So instead of 53 players on an active roster, teams can have 55 players during a game week.

The shape of the Jets quarterback room is going to depend on Flacco’s health. If he’s ready to play by September, the Jets could let Fales go without any harm. More likely than not, Morgan will be on the Jets practice squad most of the season unless disaster strikes.

Fortunately for the Jets, they’ll have the roster flexibility to manage in case Flacco is not ready to go in time for the start of the 2020 season.

NFL playoff changes: More playoff games in 2020

NFL owners voted and approved for expanded playoff format. Under the new NFL playoffs rules, there would be 7 teams in each conference

Now that the new CBA has been ratified, NFL owners have approved a 14-team postseason, starting with the 2020 season. The new playoff format will feature seven teams in each conference instead of the six that had been standard. It will also eliminate a first-round bye for all but the No. 1 seed in each conference, giving fans six playoff games during the Wild Card round instead of just four.

Here’s how each round of the postseason will look for each conference with the new NFL playoff rules applied.

NFL playoff format – Wild Card:

  • No. 1 seed: Bye
  • No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed
  • No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
  • No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed

NFL playoff format – Divisional:

  • No. 1 seed vs. Lowest remaining seed
  • Remaining two teams

NFL playoff format – Conference Championship:

  • Divisional round winners

If the new playoff rules were applied last season, they wouldn’t have impacted the Ravens too much. As the No. 1 seed in the AFC, Baltimore would have still gotten the first-round bye and faced off against the lowest remaining seed. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been the seventh and lowest seed in the Wild Card round squaring off against the Kansas City Chiefs.

In addition to the new playoff format, the NFL announced that the television network Nickelodeon will get a separately produced version of a Wild Card game tailored towards children. The goal is to get kids more involved in the game and build up a younger fanbase, though that has also meant some pretty obvious jokes getting made.

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How the new CBA impacts Sam Darnold’s future earnings

The NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement has a profound impact on Sam Darnold’s upcoming fifth-year option.

If Sam Darnold wants to maximize how much money he can make once it comes time for the Jets to pick up his fifth-year option, he is going to have to take his game up a notch the next two seasons.

Under the old CBA, the monetary value of fifth-year options was based on draft position. That is no longer case, as the language of the new CBA states that fifth-year options are now fully guaranteed and based on performance for players drafted later than 2018.

Darnold falls into that category, meaning his fifth-year option will be based solely on in-game performance and not his third overall draft slot.

There is a chance Darnold’s fifth-year option language never comes into play for the Jets. If Darnold reaches his potential and performs at a new level the next two seasons, odds are New York will look to lock him up as it is currently doing with All-Pro safety Jamal Adams. However, if the Jets and Darnold cannot come to terms on a contract extension before the time to pick up his fifth-year option rolls around, he will still be in line to earn a hefty amount of money if his performance warrants it.

The new CBA language can also work against Darnold. If the USC product either keeps performing as he has been or regresses to the point where the Jets need further time to evaluate him, New York could elect to exercise the fifth-year option at a much cheaper rate than it would have cost when option salaries were based on draft position.

Fifth-year options now being based on performance incentivizes teams to get contract extensions done with their younger players before being forced to pay a more than desired amount on the option. It also affords teams the opportunity to keep players that have not quite come around yet at much cheaper salaries than previously before.

Which end of the spectrum Darnold falls under remains to be seen. Either way, the new CBA has a profound impact on his earning potential moving forward.

Chronology of NFL labor history from 1968-2020

The NFL has labor peace for the next 10 years. Another chapter in the book of labor agreements between the league and its players.

A chronology of NFL labor issues since the NFLPA was recognized by the league in 1968:

1968

Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

In 1968 the National Football League Players Association was first recognized in writing by National Football League team owners. This occurred after the player members of the NFLPA voted to go on strike, intending to pressure owners to increase minimum salaries, pensions and other benefits for all players. In response, NFL team owners locked out the players who were on strike. After 11 days of work stoppage, the first CBA was reached between the NFL and the NFLPA. The agreement set a minimum salary of $9,000 per year for rookie players and $10,000 per year for veteran players. It also set aside $1.5 million of league revenue to be contributed to player pensions

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Panthers players react to the new 10-year CBA on Twitter

Reid followed up with another tweet criticizing the cuts to disability benefits, which he called unconscionable and a broken promise.

The NFL and the players union have come to an agreement on a new CBA. The NFLPA has ratified it with a narrow 60-vote majority.

As you might expect, there are a lot of players who are unhappy, as some 48% of them voted against it. Panthers strong safety Eric Reid has been a vocal critic of the proposed CBA and he’s making his voice heard on the subject again now that the vote is over.

Here’s how Reid is reacting to the deal, again bringing up the cuts for disabled players and objecting strongly to the general economics of it.

Reid followed up with another tweet criticizing the cuts to disability benefits, which he called unconscionable and a broken promise.

Meanwhile, Reid’s partner in the defensive backfield had a very different take. Free safety Tre Boston said he respects players whether they voted yes or no but he doesn’t respect those who did not vote at all.

Boston also says people on both sides understand it wasn’t the best deal but some players felt they couldn’t afford to say no.

Former Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith (now retired) also chimed in on Twitter echoing Will Blackmon, who called out the 500 or so players who did not vote.

The new collective bargaining agreement will be in effect for the next 10 years.

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Updated look at Eagles salary cap space after new CBA

Updated look at Eagles salary cap space after new CBA

The NFL just announced a new CBA after a narrow vote by the players on Saturday night. With the new deal that runs through 2030, the league announced a new salary cap for the 2020 season as well.

According to Tom Pelissero, the salary cap for the 2020 season will be $198.2 million, an increase of $10 million from 2019.

That cap figure leaves the Eagles in a comfortable position heading into the start of the new league year.
According to Over The Cap, the Eagles currently have $172 million committed to active contracts for their top 51 players heading into the 2020 season.

With the salary cap now at $198.2 million, the Eagles will take $26.2 million in salary-cap space and add it to the $21 million being rolled over from the 2019 season.

The Eagles projected number currently sits at about $47.2 million.

The team will have a decision to make on Malcolm Jenkins in the coming days and could gain another five million cap space if they decline to pick up his option.

The Eagles also have a pressing decision to make on Alshon Jeffery as the receiver recovers from foot surgery. If the Eagles cut Jeffery as a post-June 1 designation, they could spread his dead money out over two years.

The team will lose $10.5 million in cap space if they move on from Jeffery, but could gain more space by moving on some veterans still under contract.

NFL salary cap set at $198.2M for 2020 — Ravens have more than $19M in cap space

The Baltimore Ravens now have $19.23 million to spend this season after the 2020 NFL salary cap was released.

With the Collective Bargaining Agreement getting approved by the players today, the NFL has officially announced the salary cap for the 2020 season. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the salary cap is now set at $198.2 million, marking a $10 million increase from last season. It’s a little lower than many had expected with it being just a 5.3% increase, which is the lowest since 2013, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.

Still, we now have a better idea of where the Baltimore Ravens stand as we enter free agency. As of right now, the Ravens have $19.23 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap‘s list of liabilities. However, with outside linebacker Matthew Judon under the franchise tag, that number could grow if signed to a long-term extension or traded.

Baltimore still has holes at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, wide receiver and guard. Though they might not go after the top pending free agents this offseason, they should have enough money to improve their roster in free agency if they wish.

With the CBA approved and television deals on the horizon, it’s likely we’ll see a huge jump in salary cap next season as a result.

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How the new CBA impacts the Rams in 2020 and beyond

NFL players approved the new CBA Sunday, which will have an impact on the Rams in 2020 and future years.

There will be no NFL lockout any time soon after players voted to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement, putting the new deal in place for the next 10 years. In order for the proposal to pass, a majority of NFL players had to vote yes. The NFLPA announced Sunday that the final tally was 1,019 votes in favor of the CBA and 959 votes against it – so it was an extremely close race.

With the new CBA put in place, there will be a lot of changes. In addition to increased minimum salaries and a larger revenue share for players, the schedule and playoffs will be impacted, too. Starting in 2020, the postseason field will expand to 14 teams and beginning as early as 2021, the regular season will be 17 games with only three preseason games.

Here’s a quick list of the biggest changes this new CBA will bring:

  • 17-game season, 3-game preseason starting no earlier than 2021
  • 14-team playoff field
  • 7 in each conference, only No. 1 seed gets first-round bye
  • Higher minimum salaries
  • Increased revenue share for players
  • Only one tag (franchise or transition) can be used
  • Reduced penalties for positive drug tests, with no suspensions

So, how does all of this affect the Rams? Let’s lay out what it means for L.A. in 2020 and beyond.

Can’t tag Littleton and Fowler

Les Snead said previously that he didn’t anticipate the Rams using the franchise tag this offseason, though he didn’t completely shut the door on that possibility. Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. were really the only two candidates for the tag, and before the new CBA was ratified, it would’ve been possible for the Rams to tag both, potentially in order to trade them.

That’s no longer an option. The Rams can only use one tag now, which means if they are going to franchise Littleton or Fowler, it’ll have to be one or the other.

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NFLPA approves new collective bargaining agreement in narrow vote

The NFLPA has voted to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement.

The NFLPA has voted to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement. In a statement they released on Twitter, the union said the final vote talley was 1,019 in favor and 959 against. This means there will be no lockout and we’ll have labor peace for at least the next decade.

The new CBA will alter the playoff format and expand the regular season, in addition to some other big changes. Here’s a few key points to know:

  • The preseason schedule will now be only three games
  • Each conference gets one more playoff seed (14 teams total)
  • The regular season will be expanded to 17 games, possibly as early as 2021.
  • Minimum salaries for players jumps over 20%

You can find a more detailed summary of the new CBA here.

Not everyone is going to be happy with the new arrangement. In fact, two Panthers players have been extremely critical of the new CBA.

Safety Eric Reid has called it “a disaster” and has been bringing up the plight of disabled players, who will see significant cuts to their benefits as a result of this vote. Incoming left tackle Russell Okung has accused union leaders of negotiating in bad faith, as well.

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