The agenda for Wednesday’s business meeting in Chicago for NFL owners includes an update on the current labor talks.
The presentation, per a league source, will include a summary of the rules that apply in the uncapped year.
This implies that the league fully intends to proceed with an uncapped year in 2010, which isn’t much of a surprise given that NFLPA Executive Director De Smith already believes that the owners will thereafter lock out the players. There simply can’t be a lockout if a deal is struck before the uncapped year begins.
The uncapped year had been sold for years as a boon for the players. In reality, it could be a bust. With no salary cap there also will be no salary floor, allowing cash-conscious teams to paste together a roster limited only by the minimum salaries applicable to the various levels of experience.
Also, players will need six years of service to become unrestricted free agents, and teams will be able to use one franchise tag and one transition tag or two transition tags to limit the options of unrestricted free agents.
Perhaps most importantly, the rules limit the ability of teams finishing in the final eight to sign players from other teams. This could limit movement via big-money deals, especially if a free-spending franchise like the Redskins or the Cowboys makes it to the divisional round of the playoffs.