The NFLPA put forward a proposal where total rookie payouts would be cut by around 50%. In return, every drafted player would have the option of becoming an unrestricted free agency after three years.

The owners said no, we’re happier with things the way they are now.

I actually thought it was a good proposal by the NFLPA. Let the players prove themselves first and if they do, let them hit the market.

The CBA should be tied to the economy. As my SS which has not seen a raise in 2 years.

Seems to me these people-players, owners & agents-live in a bubble and seem not aware of the suffering going on. True, many come from disavandaged life styles which appear to be forgotten while the big $s are available.

In my opinion the CBA should be a reflection of the economy and be fluid. New players aren’t worth what they are paid. Players/owners/agents need to be aware of the ups & downs of society and be reflective of that for each current year and not based on a progressive scale.

Changes need to be made; can’t with the old style. I would like to see that the NFL be a projection of the American life style and not a shelter for pampered people. The NFL is headed for a big down turn if all parties continue with the old worn out thoughts and patterns.

I absolutely think that Suh is one of the best DT’s to come out of college in a long time, but the way he is so SUH this, and TEAM SUH is a little over the top for a rookie. Sam Bradford went before him, looks to have a great NFL career, and you never hear a peep from him. I think the rookies coming in should be much more humble to the rest of the team (i.e. Bradfrod) and prove themselves for a couple of years until they go around town thinking they are the best thing since air conditioning. (BTW, I am not a fan of any NFC team, so I am not trying to be bias.)

Teams should have the option to pay rookies a signing bonus, capped at twice the league minimum, but it will only vest after two years accrued playing time. That will keep their focus and make them work hard to get their pay.

Agents never GET that big second contract for high draft picks that are busts. Thus, if the new CBA limits rookie contracts, the agents lose, because the rookies who don’t earn that big second contract can’t help make their agents richer, which makes it more important to score big on their first (and only) contract, every time.

I’m not real sure what the success percentage for first round draft choices is, but I’m gonna bet that it’s no more than 50%, as far as the player becoming a desirable free agent, and cashing in, when he finishes his rookie agreement. So agents who look at the numbers certainly realize it’s going to cost them heavily, if the rookie contracts are capped.

Their (the agents) income will be deferred until the stars actually produce, that’s all. Adapt.

Right now, if a player DECIDES, of his own volition, to do drugs, he risks getting suspended for at least 4 games without pay.

The team meanwhile, loses a player who could help them, thus the team could lose games, and thus millions of dollars, solely b/c some idiot player wanted to smoke a doobie. Right now, the team cannot go after the player legally and recoup signing bonus money.

When Vick was busted, the Falcons were allowed to recoup a very small portion of the $20+ million in bonuses that Vick received. In other cases, the player has been able to keep their bonus money.

IMO that is bulls**t. The new CBA should include language that states that if a player decides to do drugs, they will be subject to suspension per the NFL drug policy, AND they will lose 1 year toward becoming a free agent, AND they will have to refund 50% of the signing bonus that they received. The penalties should be even worse for repeat offenders.

As it stands now, the media is firmly backing the players yet it is the teams who have 100% of the legal liability and suffer the consequences of the actions of idiot players.

When do teams/owners get a “second chance” like the players ALWAYS do?

I think it should be a base pay based on draft position plus positional value (QB, WR, OL, etc) and then additional performance incentives. That way they get a nod for their draft spot and potential impact of the postion they play, and can get more if they work hard.

A limited number of veteran exemptions after X number of years may allow teams to reward players for leadership contributions that can impact young players and make the overall team better and shift dollars.

It’s almost over and you still have to take shots at the owners. What if the players knock them off track? That IS a possibility you know. This whole thing has proven how biased the media really is.

That said, no player deserves the amount of money these draft picks get without proving worth it. There should be a rookie scale to motivate young guys to have one or two solid years in order to earn the higher salaries.

Why haven’t the owners done to the rookies what they are doing to the players right now. They’re fighting for a CBA and lockout the players when business is through the roof but do nothing to stop rookies getting these ridiculous contracts which could destroy there teams. This should be their first priority.

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Thats exactly what D. Smith wanted the owners to do. I have heard him in interviews state that the rookie wages are a creation of the owners so it is up to them to do something about it on their own. In a sense he was daring the owners to lower the offers to rookies so that he could immediately file a collusion lawsuit in Doty’s court.

This issue will determine wether I go back to the NFL. Not saying I definitely wont watch again with no rookie cap but I will certainly think twice abbot buying tickets. I don’t mind spending $100 to watch a game when the money is paying guys that EARNED it. But when it goes to some loud mouth agent and 20 year old that has never done anything but think he’s a HOF already, not sure I can spend my money that way any longer.

It’s a lot like our Congress and Senate. Wealth buys the representatives who then agree to sell out their constituency.

The agents will just get paid later

The player have to prove himself

The owners don’t overspent on bad players