Over the last few months, fans have watched MLB and their players argue in public over how the league would return to play from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was ugly, it turned some fans off, but ultimately, it looks like it will end with baseball.
Now, it looks like the NFL could be heading down the same ugly path as the MLB.
It is roughly three weeks until players report to training camp, and as a result, it seems the NFL and the NFLPA are starting to get down to the details for how a COVID-19 controlled season will look.
Speaking Tuesday on NFL Network, NFL reporter Tom Pelissero reported on how talks between the league and the player's union are going, and as of now, it doesn't seem they are going well.
Some highlights from Pelissero's report:
** NFL asked NFLPA to report to camp early, NFLPA said no
** NFL still intends to play two preseason games, NFLPA wants no preseason games to get a full 48-day training camp in
** NFLPA wants daily testing, NFL doesn't think they need it
** NFLPA says the NFL has proposed escrowing 35% of player salaries in the 2020 season to account for some cost and lost revenue because of COVID-19.
** NFLPA told NFL to "kick rocks"
** Up to $4 billion revenue loss with no fans. Could impact future salary caps. NFLPA wants to spread that out over 11 years, NFL wants to save money now.
There are a few extremely important nuggets in there, and when they all add up, you have to wonder if things are going to get worse between the two sides before they get better.
To start, the idea of player's having to put part of their 2020 salary in an escrow account seems like it could be a major issue between the two sides. While it isn't an out-right paycut like the MLB wanted it's players to take, and in theory they would get that money back at some point, it is money out of the player's pockets this season.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay made his feelings on this potential issue known, and not only seems unwilling to put a portion of his salary in an escrow account, but feels players should get a bonus this season:
We should get a bonus if we play!!! We putting our family's at risk. https://t.co/bQI5Bp7IFB
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) July 7, 2020Another potential sticking point between the two sides before football returns could be how the lost revenue impacts the salary cap. If the league does lose up to $4 billion in revenue, it could severely impact the salary cap moving forward, as the salary cap is tied to league revenue for the year. Some have speculated it could drop as much as $40 million next season. That would have a direct impact on the players, as the lower the salary cap, the less total money players will make.
As mentioned by Pelissero, it seems the NFL wants to take that hit immediately, having the cap take one dramatic hit, while the NFLPA wants to spread the losses out over the upcoming seasons.
While the issue of preseason games and testing also seem to be important, the reality is this — money is the main factor in every decision. It was with the MLB, and ultimately, it will be with the NFL.
The question is, how hard will the NFLPA fight the NFL — and if this could impact the start of Eagles' training camp in three weeks.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
