Mario Nichols/ Who Dat Daily.com NFL Contributor
New Orleans,LA – The NFL & THE NFLPA came to an agreement on several key factors to move the season forward under the national pandemic. The League and the union worked furiously on issues pertaining to camp restrictions, roster size, cap issues, opt out clauses & more.
The two sides came to an agreement Friday afternoon following a player rep vote,count of 29-3, in favor of the proposed changes. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated today “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,”
Goodell also stated: “Training camps will begin as scheduled. 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.“
Here are a list of items agreed upon by both sides according to NFL reports:
-deal includes an allowance for 16-man practice squads
-high-risk and voluntary opt-outs of participation
-the absence of a preseason for 2020
-for players who opt out of participating, high-risk candidates will receive a $350,000 stipend and their contract will toll
-voluntary opt-outs will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will toll as well. Opt-outs are due within seven days of the deal being finalized.
-training camp is set to be comprised of 20 days of a ramp-up period and a maximum of 14 padded practices. then you’ll see more OTA-style practices with helmets
-Money wise the league will spread the impact of any 2020 revenue shortfall due to the pandemic over four years beginning in 2021. The salary cap will be at least $175 million in 2021, while the 2020 cap of $198.2 million remains unchanged. In the event that financial losses are not as great as thought, the cap will be higher in 2021 than $175 million.
-Rosters must be trimmed down to 80 players by Aug. 16. No more than 80 players are allowed in the building at one time.
-In the event that games are lost for whatever reason, players with guaranteed money in their contract will still receive their compensation, though that money would come later on, “either next year or in the next year that he is a free agent
The final agreements put an end to a tumultuous negotiation period and opens the door to football on the field. The League will now move forward cautiously under a very unusual and uncertain cloud of the pandemic.
NFL Proposes Dropping Rosters To 80 Players
