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The NFL Players Association and owners are in the process of negotiating terms and conditions for the 2020 season, and the players provided an economics counter-proposal, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero.
The offer reportedly includes the following:
- No escrow of 2020 salaries
- Flat salary cap of $198.2M for 2021
- Spread revenue loss this year over 2022-2030 caps
- All fully guaranteed money paid even if games are canceled
- Players would be paid a “COVID-19 risk stipend” of up to $500,000 if games are canceled
NFL owners had previously proposed placing 35 percent of 2020 salaries in escrow. Games this fall are likely to include no more than a limited amount of, with a strong possibility of no fans for most teams. Television money is the NFL’s lifeblood, but ticket revenue is still significant.
The players recognize the salary cap will take a hit with the loss of revenue in 2020, but Pelissero is reporting they don’t want one year of players to take the whole hit. Rather than escrow one year’s salary, spreading it over nine years worth of caps could limit the short term hurt.