The NFL has been pushing for several years now to have an 18-game regular season, but the league’s efforts have been met with resistance from the NFL Players Association.
Eventually, it’s believed that the 18-game proposal will be implemented, and New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton would like to see some concessions made by the team owners.
Slayton, speaking with Ryan Canfield of Fox News, has three main things he’d like to see the league grant the players in return for the added extra game: guaranteed Proven Performance Escalators (PPE), a slightly larger revenue share for the players, and greater investments in training staffs.
The 28-year-old receiver has personal experience dealing with all three of these issues and can, therefore, offer an interesting perspective.
Slayton signed a three-year, $36 million contract this past offseason, but before he secured his big payday, the team’s 2019 fifth-round pick was force-fed a bitter pill by the front office.
Slayton once earned a PPE, which is a payment mechanism designed to increase the salary of any player selected in Rounds 3-7 of the NFL Draft if they play a certain number of games.
Because his cap number rose and the Giants were in a cap bind, general manager Joe Schoen gave Slayton a choice to either take a pay cut or be cut from the team. Slayton ultimately took a pay cut to retain his roster spot, forfeiting money he had earned.
The veteran pass-catcher is no longer operating from a position of desperation following the sizable commitment the organization made to him in March. However, he still wishes to improve the conditions for those currently on rookie deals.
If teams are allowed to renege on these incentives, they may do so to gain cap flexibility. To Slayton's point, if the escalators are going to be included, it makes little sense for organizations to hold the power to waive them.
The NFL may have to make a firm judgment on the issue: either enforce the PFEs when applicable or exclude them from the contract from the outset.
Slayton is also looking to give players a bigger piece of the league's infinite pie, specifically an additional 1 to 1.5 percent of the NFL's revenue share, which would increase the number to approximately 49.5 percent.
"I think even if we get to like 49 and a half, that 1% in that instance, you're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars," Slayton told Canfield.
"All the places that that (additional money) could go, that 1% is very, very valuable. That's why they're holding on to it so tight."
If the league rakes in an extra week's worth of revenue, it only makes sense that the NFL Players Association will seek a monetary boost like the one Slayton is suggesting.
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Staying with the theme of maximizing value, proper body maintenance can ensure that athletes remain impactful on the field. The Giants’ training room and training staff earned B- and B grades, respectively, in the annual NFLPA team report cards.
Football is already a physically grueling sport that leaves a visible and lasting mark on many who dedicate their lives to it. An extra game may require additional care from the training department and, therefore, more resources to provide that care.
"I'm on a team that does probably one of the best jobs in the league, but I just know for a fact, like just listening to guys across the league, that could certainly be higher," Slayton said.
"If you wanted people's bodies to hold up, that's a department where you could pour more money into and at least help guys more."
While it is important to be prepared for these types of conversations, Slayton and the Giants' primary focus is on navigating next season's 17-game schedule, which is the most challenging in the NFL on paper.
The seventh-year wide receiver, who recorded 39 receptions for 573 yards and two touchdowns during the 2024-25 campaign, will play a key role in New York's offense.
Perhaps if he posts big numbers with new starting quarterback Russell Wilson, Slayton will have a little more clout if and when he formally presents his aforementioned ideas to the NFL Players Association.
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With the regular season approaching, the Dallas Cowboys should be aiming to extend EDGE Micah Parsons promptly. But they're still in no rush to do that. Parsons is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2025 and has requested a trade. Dallas insists it has no plans to move the 26-year-old pass-rusher but hasn't clarified when it will extend him. Giving him a new deal before the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock) seems wise. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, however, said that's not the team's deadline, nor does it need one. "No, not at all," Jones said Wednesday, via Jonah Javad of WFAA-TV in Dallas. "You don't have deadlines when you're playing under contract." Parsons is under contract, but that doesn't mean he must suit up. The EDGE could hold out of regular-season games, like former Cowboys star running back Emmitt Smith did in 1993. The Pro Football Hall of Famer missed the first two games of the season before becoming the league's highest-paid RB at that time. Parsons hasn't said whether he would hold out of regular-season games, but it's apparent he's unhappy with where things stand. "My mouth is closed," Parsons said Wednesday while leaving the practice field in Oxnard, California, via Field Level Media. Jones didn't say if talks with Parsons would resume when the Cowboys return to Texas for their second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The owner still seems confident Parsons will play on the fifth-year option if Dallas doesn't sign him before the start of the regular season. "Again, all you've got to go on are contracts," Jones said. "We are negotiating for a contract. When you do a contract, you would hope that after a negotiation, that's what both the team and player look to see what our obligations are. I have a lot of respect for the contract." Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb played the last years of their rookie contracts. Perhaps Jones wants Parsons to do the same. Still, that would be silly. Paying the four-time Pro Bowler should be a no-brainer for the Cowboys, so they should stop wasting time and show him the money.
The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.