On Monday, the rookie wage scale made an appearance in the NFL lockout negotiations, perhaps signaling the end of the work stoppage is near. For months, the NFL and NFLPA have been arguing over revenue sharing proposals, focusing largely on how billions of dollars would be split in a new collective bargaining agreement. The discussion shifted this week, and reports began to surface indicating a revenue sharing agreement may have occurred.
NFL Lockout Update: Rookie Wage Scale Could Be Drastically Slashed
According to a USA Today report, it appears the rookie wage scale debate wasn’t much of a disagreement at all. Instead, both sides seem to agree that something needs to be done to cut down on bloated contracts for players taken early in the NFL Draft.
While the two factions have not agreed on much since the lockout began in March, they appear to be in accord on one thing — a rookie salary structure that eliminates enormous guaranteed contracts for top draft selections.
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One example, according to an ESPN report citing people familiar with the negotiations: A No. 1 overall draft pick would earn $34 million in five years, including a team option for the fifth season. In the current system, that number could be $78 million through six seasons.
The cut would be roughly 50 percent, a significant change from the present deal. The trade-off, however, is the length of the contract. Players would likely be able to sign a second contract after their fourth year in the league, allowing players outside of the first round to capitalize on their successes. It minimizes risk for the owners and maximizes potential future earnings for the players, especially for some of the more unheralded players that quickly make a name for themselves with their performance on the field in the NFL.
Stay tuned for more NFL lockout news as the season continues to get closer and closer.
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