According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, players have yet to approve the NFL plan, but if they do, training camp will begin as scheduled on Tuesday, July 28. The NFLPA executive voted unanimously to recommend the changes proposed by the CBA, which would mean that we started on time. The owners also voted to approve the NFL’s plan to restart. While there are still some hurdles to overcome, the NFL and NFLPA are very close to the economy, opt-out, and the acclimatization period. By all reports, it looks like we will have soccer. For now at least.
One of the big questions that surrounded the start of the season was what happens if a player chooses not to participate? Well, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said it’s as simple as “don’t play, don’t pay.” All wages and incentives will disappear if the games stop. In reference to “don’t play, don’t pay”, that means that if the games are canceled, the players will not receive any payment. The NFL-NFLPA leadership has allowed for opt-out, with a stipend. Players will have to decide within the next 10 days.
Looking at the roster size, teams can narrow down to 80 players right now. By August 16, each team must be at 80. According to Mark Maske, NFL owners ratified an increase in practice squads of 16 players per team. So your choice is to eliminate 10 players before training camp begins, or wait until August 16, where practice squads will increase to 16 players. Six of those players can have an unlimited number of cumulative seasons. Four players on the practice team can protect themselves from other teams weekly.
Albert Breer said this is the timeline for the camp:
Day 1: Virtual tests / meetings.
Days 2-3: virtual meetings.
Day 4: Virtual tests / meetings.
Days 5-6: physical exams.
Days 7-15: Strength and conditioning (with a free day).
Day 16: Practice begins.
Day 21: First padded practice.
On days 16 and 17 they would have similar rules to Phase II of the low season program. On the 18th the helmets can continue. Teams can take tours starting on the 7th when the strength and conditioning period begins.
My main conclusion from that timeline is to expect some terrible things to be addressed earlier in the season, and that could mean players like Jauan Jennings have a better chance of making the roster with their talent after the capture.
Chris Mortensen reported that part of the new CBA deal was that a fund / benefit would be established to return COVID’s phased-out benefits until 2023 and to return lost guaranteed money to players.
The final detail of the NFLPA call discussed the salary cap. The current proposal would leave this year’s limit at $ 198.2 million and set a minimum of $ 175 million for the 2020 seasons. Any additional deficits would exceed the salary limit during the 2024 season. The NFL has new television deals that have increased after the season 2021, and many expect league revenues to skyrocket, which would mean a higher salary cap. That was before COVID-19, however. The call started today at 12:30 pm Pacific time, so we will have updates with the results.
