So we all wait with baited breath as the media-proclaimed "Armageddon" approaches, 5pm Friday when the NFL CBA officially expires (after 2 extensions).As we wait, it is clear that the only issue that really matters is that the owners need more money, and are debating about just how much. Increasing to 18 games will do that. A rookie wage scale will also do that. The NFLPA is willing to discuss those terms. The NFLPA, of course, wants better pension and healthcare for retired players. Seems they should be able to save for their healthcare like everyone else in America, but fine. That's peanuts.
The big issue is the revenue sharing plan. The media would have you believe the players and owners are $1 billion apart. Currently, the owners get $1 billion off the top before players get 59.6% of the rest. The owners have made a firm proposal of what they want with regards to revenue sharing: they want $2 billion off the top. The players have countered that they want to see the books, which will never happen. In lieu of that, the NFLPA proposed a 50% split of ALL revenue without taking anything off the top. Apparently, the NFL walked out at the mere thought of that.
So, are we really $1 billion apart? I prepared a little Excel table to calculate it all out. I have not seen this presented anywhere online, but I think it is 100% sound. You can see the numbers for yourself. The owners want an additional $18.625 million per team. The players are offering $8.375 million per team. In total, the actual difference between actual proposals that have been reported is $328 million.
So I, the great arbiter, have determined that a compromise will take the following form:
1) Get rid of any money off the top
As revenue grows (as it did since the last CBA), anything off the top becomes less valuable.
2) Split the difference in the two "on record" proposals:
- Owner share of revenue is 51.8% (an increase of $432 million or $13.5 million per team)
- Player share of revenue is 48.2 % (a decrease of the same amount)
This helps owners and veteran players. If less of the players' 48.2% is tied up for unproven rookie contracts, veterans get paid more! Owners will have more flexibility in the draft and holdouts will be over.
4) Implement a fund for player pension and healthcare
It is the right thing to do. These players get brutalized, and last on average 3 years in the league. The owners still make money when they are walking corpses (see Al Davis).
5) If that isn't enough, go ahead and add 2 more games
More money, but reduce the preseason and limit off-season OTA's. Nobody really thinks the NFL needs 2 more games, but fine.
This is a victory for owners who increase revenue. And the increased revenue is now protected from future increases to the total pot. They can also increase revenue for both sides by increasing games which increases the $9 billion pot. The players take a hit, but veteran salaries will increase with a rookie wage scale, and they get healthcare and pension.
GET IT DONE!!! I NEED TO START PLANNING A FANTASY SEASON!!!
CBA... WINNING!!!
2 comments:
I've got to think if they put in a rookie wage scale, it will solve a lot of money problems. When a team has to pay an unproven player $30 million in guaranteed money, that ain't chump change. And no unproven rookie should ever make more than an All-Pro player, at any position. It's just ludicrous!
I agree Kev, but you still have to allocate 59.6% of revenue to the player's salary. The rest of the team gets paid more. That doesn't actually SAVE any money for the owners.
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