NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not afraid to take a page out of the NFLPA's playbook. He's setting the tone for the next round of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations in public, and it seems fans are rallying to his side.
At a question and answer session at the Chautauqua Institute, Goodell referred to rookie salaries as "ridiculous". He noted that "[rookie salary] is not going to players that are performing." His comments were met with strong applause from the audience, according to ESPN.
blahhblah $30M guaranteed even before his first drive-crushing holding penalty
Goodell is taking an interesting approach to this round of CBA negotiations. He is simultaneously appealing to the fans and to the veteran players, including those who have leadership positions within the NFLPA. Veteran players reacted strongly to the deals signed by Matt Ryan and Jake Long, especially the guaranteed money given. Back in May, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae (C-Titans) said, "As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and [he] never steps foot on an NFL football field, it's a little disheartening to think of". John Lynch and Jay Feely have both publicly spoken in favor of a rookie salary system.
This puts Gene Upshaw in a very difficult position. He is vehemently opposed to any changes to the rookie salary system, citing concessions already made. A contingency in his union, including many well-respected veterans, are absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. The owners, who believe high rookie salaries cause salary inflation in general, are absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. Roger Goodell, who represents the interests of the owners, is charismatic, well-liked and is absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. That leaves Upshaw and a fractured portion of the union on his side.
blahblahblah Goodell filled Tags' shoes and added an ass-kicking steel toe
Upshaw's position has merit. He argues that a tight rookie salary cap potentially prices veterans out of a job. This makes sense, in that a six-year veteran who must make three times what a rookie replacement must make is in trouble of losing his job. This explains, in part, why many of the veterans most in favor of a rookie cap are those least at risk of losing their jobs to a lower-round draft pick. On the other hand, the veteran minimum salary elevates after the player has already played the four "credited" seasons necessary to secure a pension. In that way, the union has done its job for players who are not talented enough to maintain their position in the league due to rookie competition.
This is but one issue on the table for the 2009 CBA negotiations, but it appears the one Goodell wants to drive the hardest. He knows that the issue fractures the NFLPA, and obviously that plays to his advantage in getting other concessions from Upshaw and the union. Just as importantly, he knows that the issue has traction with fans who wouldn't much like entry-level college grads nabbing the same salaries they make despite experience. Also, this distracts from the quite damaging images of prematurely disabled retired players. In that respect, everyone wins...except the disabled retired players.This entire labor negotiation is going to be the major football issue of early 2009, whether you like it or not. Keep an eye here as we'll analyze the developments as they occur.
At a question and answer session at the Chautauqua Institute, Goodell referred to rookie salaries as "ridiculous". He noted that "[rookie salary] is not going to players that are performing." His comments were met with strong applause from the audience, according to ESPN.
blahhblah $30M guaranteed even before his first drive-crushing holding penalty
Goodell is taking an interesting approach to this round of CBA negotiations. He is simultaneously appealing to the fans and to the veteran players, including those who have leadership positions within the NFLPA. Veteran players reacted strongly to the deals signed by Matt Ryan and Jake Long, especially the guaranteed money given. Back in May, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae (C-Titans) said, "As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and [he] never steps foot on an NFL football field, it's a little disheartening to think of". John Lynch and Jay Feely have both publicly spoken in favor of a rookie salary system.
This puts Gene Upshaw in a very difficult position. He is vehemently opposed to any changes to the rookie salary system, citing concessions already made. A contingency in his union, including many well-respected veterans, are absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. The owners, who believe high rookie salaries cause salary inflation in general, are absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. Roger Goodell, who represents the interests of the owners, is charismatic, well-liked and is absolutely in favor of a rookie salary cap. That leaves Upshaw and a fractured portion of the union on his side.
blahblahblah Goodell filled Tags' shoes and added an ass-kicking steel toe
Upshaw's position has merit. He argues that a tight rookie salary cap potentially prices veterans out of a job. This makes sense, in that a six-year veteran who must make three times what a rookie replacement must make is in trouble of losing his job. This explains, in part, why many of the veterans most in favor of a rookie cap are those least at risk of losing their jobs to a lower-round draft pick. On the other hand, the veteran minimum salary elevates after the player has already played the four "credited" seasons necessary to secure a pension. In that way, the union has done its job for players who are not talented enough to maintain their position in the league due to rookie competition.
This is but one issue on the table for the 2009 CBA negotiations, but it appears the one Goodell wants to drive the hardest. He knows that the issue fractures the NFLPA, and obviously that plays to his advantage in getting other concessions from Upshaw and the union. Just as importantly, he knows that the issue has traction with fans who wouldn't much like entry-level college grads nabbing the same salaries they make despite experience. Also, this distracts from the quite damaging images of prematurely disabled retired players. In that respect, everyone wins...except the disabled retired players.This entire labor negotiation is going to be the major football issue of early 2009, whether you like it or not. Keep an eye here as we'll analyze the developments as they occur.
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