Report: NFL owners want cap
resolution soon
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[July 24, 2020]
NFL owners want to finalize an
agreement with the NFL Players Association by Sunday regarding the
expected revenue shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic and
how it will affect the salary cap, NFL Network reported Thursday.
Per the report, the owners would like a deal before the full rosters
for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are scheduled to start
strength and conditioning work. Without a deal by Sunday, the league
could push back in-person workouts.
The hard deadline for any economic agreement would be the start of
the regular season, as player salaries would guarantee if a game is
played.
Multiple outlets have reported the union would like to spread out
the impact of the revenue shortfall over multiple years, minimizing
the impact on the salary cap.
However, owners want to concentrate the effect on the 2021 cap and
even part of the 2020 cap. According to The MMQB, some owners are
strongly opposed to spreading losses out over multiple years, as
they did in 2011-13, something they view as an "interest-free loan"
to players.
If no deal is reached, the cap could drop by as much as $70 million
in 2021, per projections, from its current number of $198.2 million.
Per NFL Network, a general manager believes dropping the 2020 cap by
even $10 million would be "too much" at the moment, as several teams
are already short on cap space.
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Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate with the Vince Lombardi trophy.
REUTERS/Mike Blake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Negotiations between the league and union in recent days have
focused on the preseason -- which was eliminated -- roster sizes,
testing procedures and rules for players who opt out of playing. In
addition to the economics, the sides still must agree on a firm
training camp schedule, with players pushing for more time to ramp
up to fully padded practices.
In a separate report Thursday, NFL Network said the league will
recommend players use mouth shields on helmets but is not expected
to require them.
The shields, created by Oakley in partnership with the NFL, were
designed to help protect players from airborne particles that could
spread COVID-19. Some players, including Houston Texans defensive
end J.J. Watt, have said they would not wear them, while others like
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson have practiced in them
on their own.
-Field Level Media
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