Unknowns and obstacles still surround the National Football League and their hopes for a season in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting all areas of the United States. The league has proposed several ideas to prepare for the season to start on time this fall, and one reported on Tuesday isn't going over well with many.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the league proposed to the NFL Players' Association the idea of a percentage of player salaries being held in escrow.
The NFLPA informed its board of representatives today that the NFL proposed 35% of player salaries be held in escrow to help manage costs during the 2020 season, per sources.It's one option on the table if revenue is impacted leaguewide by COVID-19.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)
July 7, 2020 Escrow is the concept of a third party holding money on behalf of two parties, with the disbursement dependent on agreed conditions of the two sides.
It appears the NFL is preparing for less revenue coming in this season as games could be played without fans in attendance.
Many players have spoken out against the proposal, including New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Michael Thomas:
Lol everyone will sit out and not play until they get their stuff together before we do this -- https://t.co/cqOuQfQvr8
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike)
July 7, 2020 Questions players, media, and fans alike have brought up about the proposal includes whether or not every player will have to give up the same percentage of their contract, regardless of how much they make.
This isn't the first time owners and players have run into disagreements about the plan for the 2020 season. In June, the NFL planned to cut their four-game preseason down to just two games for each team in August. The NFLPA believes in the best interest of players' safety that there shouldn't be a preseason.
Considering NFLPA President J.C. Tretter has already spoken out publicly about the league's unwillingness to prioritize players safety during a pandemic that players are risking getting infected by if they play, asking them to have a large percentage of their salaries held to help owners save money isn't going over well.
