League released info on CBA for 2009 and 2010

[cyberdude557]

Among the facts referenced by the league:

Barring an extension to the CBA, it’s set to expire in March of 2011.  The league still plans to hold a college draft in 2011.

2010 would be an uncapped year.

Starting this year, there won’t be a June 1 rule for signing-bonus acceleration.  So, if a player is cut or traded any remaining proration of his signing bonus would be counted against the salary cap immediately.

In 2009, not-likely-to-be-earned incentives are counted immediately against the salary cap and likely-to-be-earned incentives are deducted right away when there’s no chance they can be earned.

Under the league’s 30-percent increase rule, a player with a $500,000 salary this year would only be able to go up by $150,000 annually starting in 2010.

In an apparent cost-cutting move, teams are no longer required to finance various player benefit programs, which includes 401K, player annuities, severances, performance-based pay and tuition assistance.

Defining who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent will change in 2010.  Now, a player isn’t eligible unless they have six seasons under their belt.

In an uncapped year, teams will have an additional transition tag as well as their normal allotment of one franchise and one transition tag.

Meanwhile, the league noted once again that there will be no minimum team salary for the final league year.

For instance, in 2009, teams are required to spend at least $107.748 million in player costs, a figure that doesn’t include benefits with a salary cap limit of $123 million.

If the NFL doesn’t have a salary cap ceiling, it also won’t have a salary cap basement.

Finally, there will be designated minimum salaries for players in the final league year.  However, they’ll go up less than they did during years where the league had a salary cap.


http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/02/19/14-players-assigned-franchise-tag-cba-rules-update/

The union is certainly not going to like these new rules...You have to wonder if the word "lockout" will be thrown around in a few years.

[HughC]

Yes, the NFLPA may not like these 'new' rules, but shame on them if they were not aware; they were the ones that signed the agreement!  Besides, if someone like me has been aware of these possible changes for a year or more, when the owners first started talking about possibly opting out of the contract and going for an uncapped year, I can't possibly imagine that there is a single agent that is unaware of the changes.  If there is, then his right to represent players should be revoked.  I can't imagine there are any players who didn't know about this change months ago, either from their agent, player rep, or other players. 

If there is somebody that didn't know about these changes coming next year, it's his own fault for being that unaware.