NFL owners and players met in the Boston area Wednesday in the latest attempt to work out a new collective bargaining agreement, a person with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and members of his labor committee resumed negotiations with players’ association chief DeMaurice Smith and several players. On Tuesday, NFL owners were briefed on recent progress about a new CBA.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are confidential.
One NFL player said the NFLPA told him progress is being made “but there’s still maybe two weeks to go” before a settlement is likely. The player also spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak for the players association.
The main topic of discussion is the breakdown of total revenues. One person told the AP on Tuesday that the players’ share would approach the 50 percent the NFLPA has said it has received throughout the last decade. But the expense credits — about $1 billion last year — that the league takes off the top would disappear.
Also, there would no longer be “designated revenues” from which the players would share, the person said. Instead, the players would share from the entire pie, which they project will grow significantly over the course of the new CBA that is expected to run anywhere from six to 10 years. So if they are taking 48 percent or more of a much higher revenue stream — without the initial NFL deduction for operating expenses — the players still would receive far more money than they got under the previous agreement.
A salary floor keeping teams within 90 percent of the cap also would be included. The players have been concerned that some teams whose revenue streams don’t match up with the richer clubs would try to hold down salary spending, but the proposal would require the full salary-cap spending to be in cash.
Both sides sound eager to find common ground rather than return to court. A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering the league’s appeal of a lower-court injunction that originally blocked the lockout. That injunction is on hold, and a ruling could come anytime.
Instead, the owners and players have ramped up their talks.
