Uncapped Season in 07

[Broncojef]

If 07 is truly to be an uncapped season what is to stop teams from adding Abraham, TO, Edgerrin and paying them the minimum or some cap friendly number this year and backloading the real money for the uncapped timeframe?

[WABronco]

Originally Posted by Broncojef

If 07 is truly to be an uncapped season what is to stop teams from adding Abraham, TO, Edgerrin and paying them the minimum or some cap friendly number this year and backloading the real money for the uncapped timeframe?

Here are the key points.--profootballtalk.com

1. There will be no limit on what teams can spend on players, but there also will be no minimum, either. Currently, teams are required annually to spend at least 54 percent of the projected Defined Gross Revenues on player costs. In an uncapped year, teams can spend as little as they choose.

2. Only players with six or more accrued seasons will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Players with three, four, or five accrued seasons will be restricted free agents. In other words, Bucs quarterback Chris Simms (who signed a one-year restricted free agent tender on Wednesday), will be a restricted free agent again in 2007. Under normal circumstances, he would be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2007.

3. All teams will have an extra transition tag in 2007. Currently, teams can use either a franchise tag or a transition tag. So next year the teams will be able to restrict two otherwise unrestricted free agents.

4. The final four playoff teams from 2006 will be permitted to sign only their own unrestricted free agents. For each of their unrestricted free agents signed by someone else, they can replace them with an unrestricted free agent signed from another team.

5. The next four playoff teams will be subject to the same rules as the final four. They also will be able to sign one unrestricted free agent at a first-year salary of $1.5 million or more, and one at a first-year salary of less than $1 million (not including signing bonus), with increases of no more than 30 percent of the player's first-year salary.

The message here is that there are some significant limits to the cash bonanza that the players are expecting in 2007. It's another reason, in our opinion, for both sides to get the deal done.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by Broncojef

If 07 is truly to be an uncapped season what is to stop teams from adding Abraham, TO, Edgerrin and paying them the minimum or some cap friendly number this year and backloading the real money for the uncapped timeframe?

Broncojef:

"Uncapped" is very misleading and has rules that would specifically preclude teams from doing just that. I am working on a thread to solve some of the confusion right now.

[Broncojef]

I would appreciate that. If all the signing rules kick in during the uncapped era I wonder if this is an open window right now. It sounds like they have made allowances so that doesn't happen.

[Crowpointer]

Upshaw has said/threatened that if the players ever go to an uncapped salary limit they will never go back to a salary cap.

[bronco militia]

more cba facts: say goodbye to the draft.

What happens to player benefits (401k plans, health coverage, etc.)?

In an uncapped 2007, owners no longer will be responsible for their annual payments of about $13 million apiece to 401k plans, health coverage, life insurance and other programs under the umbrella of benefits. The NFL matches each player's 401k investments 2-for-1.

How does all of this affect the 2006 NFL draft?

Signing draft choices will be more difficult this year, because teams can prorate signing bonuses over only four seasons. Already, agents figure the most a top draft choice can make under that scenario is $15 million, a major reduction from recent years. That likely will lead to long holdouts by draft choices.

What are the long-term ramifications for the league?

Barring a new CBA, the players either will be on strike or the owners will lock out the players in 2008. The union likely will decertify, and antitrust rules will apply. Also, the NFL draft will go away in 2008 as part of a clause inserted in the current CBA. Players coming out of college could be free agents, with no salary restrictions. Open negotiations, including those for rookies coming out of college, will leave it to the players to get what they can get.

What are the long-term ramifications for the players?

If the union does decertify, it will cause a lot of uncertainty for the players. Teams could change the benefits package players receive, and there would be no organization to protect players' interests. Teams could offer players salaries well below the currently established minimums.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2351462

[ro_50]

This could get ugly.

I dont know what the future holds but as bronco militia just stated, it could be scary what happens to the NFL if these nitwits dont get together and get something done by next season before the contract ends.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by Broncojef

If 07 is truly to be an uncapped season what is to stop teams from adding Abraham, TO, Edgerrin and paying them the minimum or some cap friendly number this year and backloading the real money for the uncapped timeframe?

The 30% rule.

It seems that it would best in your scenario if they signed them to a 1 year deal this year to acquire their rights, and then can re-sign them next year to larger deals.