The collective bargaining agreement has proved to be a nuisance. The league and the players union do not agree about anything. There is mistrust which borders on contempt and the negotiations have all but stalled.
NFL’s lead negotiator seems not to have a grip on the situation. Jeff Pash said that both sides recognise the importance of having an 18-game regular season and that should be the focus of the negotiations. He said that the although the players union has
its reservations about an extended regular season they would still try to come to an agreement with the league which addresses their concerns and makes it a viable option.
The Players Association recently presented its counter-proposal for an 18-game season of the NFL. The Association asked for concessions from the league in exchange for an 18-game season. The concessions were not outlandish or unreasonable. The counter-proposal
asked for fewer off season workouts from the current 14, down to a 5 in the next season. The union insisted on reduced contact during training camp, two bye weeks, increased salary and a reduction in the number of games a player must play to qualify for post-career
health care and pension.
The counter-proposal came as a shock to the players because the overwhelming majority of them are outright opposed to playing 18 games. The Players Association explained that they were obligated to negotiate in good faith with the League under existing labour
laws before an impasse can be declared. What that means is that the negotiations are going nowhere even when they appear to be going somewhere.
“We'll bargain because we have to but until it makes sense -- if it ever makes sense -- we're not going to agree to any 18-game schedule,” NFLPA president Kevin Mawea said.
Pash is certain that it would eventually make sense for the Players Association if the negotiations continue but would require both sides to be equally focussed and committed. He said that the league wanted to conclude the negotiations before the summer
to ensure a full 2011 season but said that there was no fixed deadline for negotiations.
A lockout would prove very costly to both the league and the players. Pash said that it served as an incentive for both sides to come to an agreement as early as possible and that was the league’s focus. “Are we going to do it? I can't guarantee that,” Pash
said.
He said that the most important issue was still the economics of it all. There were issues of a rookie salary cap and free agent rules but fundamentally, the negotiations focussed on the questions of revenue. Pash cited the Players Association’s continued
interest in continuing negotiations with the league as a sign that the union recognises the importance of an 18-game season.
“It's a season that would deliver more value to the fans. It would allow a lot of growth opportunities that don't exist with the current structure, and those growth opportunities would be beneficial for the players as well as for the clubs,” Pash said.
The owners opted out of the current CBA in 2008 because they said that the model was not financially viable. The league said that costs had been on the rise continuously and the owners were unable to extract profits. Player salaries rose from an average
of $1.5 million to $1.9 million in 2009.
Pash explained that since the CBA was signed the owners have felt ‘aggrieved.’ They think the agreement was too one sided and have now taken a much tougher stance to get a deal they could be happy with for many years to come. The league and the union can
both be happy without conceding too much if there is more revenue to share. An 18-game season guarantees more revenue.
Each side is effectively trying to rob the other and the question is how much of it can they get away with.
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