The NFL Executive Committee and NFLPA have approved a number of tweaks to the CBA that could help the league move forward not only this season but in the future, as well, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes, which include no adjustments to the salary cap in 2020 and setting the cap floor at $175 million in 2021, were proposed by the executive committee Friday afternoon and approved by the NFLPA executive committee later.
A statement following our Executive Committee meeting: pic.twitter.com/pSkq369jeh
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) July 24, 2020
According to NFL.com, the changes to the CBA, which was ratified earlier this year, this year's salary cap will remain at $198.2 million, the level set earlier this year. But the league wants to spread the expected shortfalls in revenue created in 2020 when teams will be playing in front of reduced number of fans or none at all over the next four seasons.
"The NFL clubs and the NFL Players Association approved an agreement that broadly resolves all outstanding issues relating to the opening of training camps and start of the 2020 season. Training camps will begin as scheduled," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
"We have worked collaboratively to develop a comprehensive set of protocols designed to minimize risk for fans, players, and club and league personnel. These plans have been guided by the medical directors of the NFL and the NFLPA and have been reviewed and endorsed by independent medical and public health experts, including the CDC, and many state and local public health officials. The season will undoubtedly present new and additional challenges, but we are committed to playing a safe and complete 2020 season, culminating with the Super Bowl. "
Steelers president Art Rooney II also was happy to get the deal done.
Statement from #Steelers President Art Rooney II: pic.twitter.com/5j5bUe2a4G
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 25, 2020
That will potentially lower the cap in future years, but keep the 2021 cap from falling dramatically by setting that floor at $175 million. If revenues are higher than expected, the cap could be higher than that number. But it cannot be lower.
NFL camps will begin on time July 28. But, per rules already agreed to, that reporting date will include multiple coronavirus tests before players can enter team facilities and a ramp up to practices.
Players have suggested at least two to three weeks of conditioning before padded practices begin and ownership seems amenable to that, which was the main reason the preseason has been canceled. According to the NFL Network, the terms agreed to include 20 days of conditioning and 14 days of padded practice for training camps.
Owners also approved an increase in practice squad sizes to 16 players, up from the 12 agreed to earlier this year when the new CBA was ratified.
This comes on the heels of reports that teams have been informed by the league roster sizes for training camps will be reduced from 90 to 80 players. The date for that roster reduction is Aug. 16.
Players also negotiated the ability for at-risk players to opt out of playing in 2020. Those players will receive $350,000 and their contract will toll, meaning the season will not count toward their free agency. All of the CDC's defined "increased risk" categories such as asthma, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes and other major issues are covered as "high risk" under the deal, with the exception of high-BMI.
Players who voluntary opt out but have no medical issues will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will toll as well. Players have seven days to decide if they will opt out of playing this season.
LOLLEY'S VIEW
The $175 million floor is alarming and it should be. But that's a worst-case scenario. It likely will come in at higher than that.
At that level, more than half the league would have to release players just to get to the cap. And neither the teams nor the NFLPA want that.
The Steelers currently have just over $189 million tied up in salaries for 2021, so they would be one of those teams that would need to make cuts to get under the cap. But they're in better shape than many other teams. The Eagles, for example, would need to cut around $100 million in salaries to get to that floor.
The Saints would need to trim approximately $75 million.
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