NFL Players Should Use the CBA to Force the NFL to Become Player Centric

NFL players are at a pivotal moment. They are faced with the decision of whether to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA). For months, NFL ownership and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have worked to create an equitable CBA. On February 26, 2020, the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives voted to send the proposed CBA to the players for a full membership vote. Whether this proposed agreement is truly equitable is a matter of opinion. Many are of the opinion that it is not. Critics argue that the owners are essentially getting everything they want while the players are not getting enough in return. Given everything NFL ownership is getting compared to what the players are getting, the deal is not the most equitable. Accordingly, the players should take a stand and demand more.

Summary of the Owners and Players Benefits in the Proposed CBA

The 17th Game

First, NFL ownership would get a major victory by simply getting the players to agree to a deal at this juncture. The current CBA does not expire until March 3, 2021. From the players’ standpoint, there is not much reason to rush. The players are not yet facing a lockout. The 2020-2021 NFL season can be played under the current CBA. Therefore, any threat of a lockout would be a whole season away. Second, if the players agree to this deal the owners will have the thing they wanted most – a 17th regular-season game. The owners have wanted this for a long time as they know it will lead to an increase in revenue.

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In fact, NFL ownership is set to enter negotiations with broadcasters and streaming services after the start of the NFL league year on March 18, 2020. NFL ownership would love to enter those negotiations with a new CBA in hand without the threat of a future lockout. It is precisely this fact that gives the players a bit of leverage in these negotiations. The players have something the NFL refuses to move forward without – the 17th game. The players should use that to their advantage. They should also use the fact that NFL ownership needs to enter broadcast negotiations without the threat of a future lockout looming. These two things alone could be enough for the players to increase the revenue split to 50/50.

The Revenue Split

Under the proposed CBA the revenue split will only increase to 48%. The revenue split has the potential to increase to 48.5% if there is a 60% increase in TV revenue. Therefore, the ability to receive a 48.5% revenue split is not guaranteed. Furthermore, the players will have no opportunity to receive a 50/50 revenue split for at least 10 years. As written, the proposed CBA will be in effect for 10 years with no opt-out provision. A ten-year deal with no opt-out provision should be a major concern to the players.

Even with Salary Increases, the NFL Players are Not Getting Enough in Return

It is true that many players will receive a significant increase in their salaries as early as 2020. Many players’ salaries could increase by roughly $100,000 next season if the CBA is agreed to. However, those increases are not enough to make up for the inequities of the deal. Many players have recognized this and have taken a stand against the proposed CBA. Several high profile players announced their intent to vote against the proposed CBA urging other players to vote no. One of those players is Green Bay Packers’ star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Another one is Seattle Seahawks superstar Russel Wilson.

Wilson stated that “The NBA and MLB are doing it right. Players come first.” This was a very interesting take on the issue and is even more reason for the players to take a stand. The NBA and MLB are considered by many to be more progressive leagues than the NFL. The NBA and MLB are viewed that way because they are more player-centric. If NFL players want the NFL to become more player-centric, they have to be willing to stand up for themselves. NFL players should not agree to a deal where the franchise tag remains intact while the penalty for training camp holdouts becomes more severe. NFL Players should take their time and make the most out of their negotiation power.

Dawn of a New NFL Contract Era as Players Demand and Get Their Worth

dawn new nfl contract players demand worth

Late Tuesday night, Seattle Seahawks fans sighed in relief when Russell Wilson announced that he and the Seahawks reached a deal. Russell Wilson will be staying in Seattle and is now the highest paid player in the NFL!


Wilson and the Seahawks entered into a four-year agreement with a $140 million extension and a $65 million bonus. Wilson will also receive a total of $107 million in total guarantees. These numbers are impressive and are well-deserved. Wilson has had an impressive career since entering the league in 2012. With two Super Bowl appearances, six playoff appearances, and five trips to the Pro-Bowl, it is no wonder the Seahawks wanted to keep him. After all, he is their franchise player who led the Seahawks to its first Lombardi Trophy in 2014.

Russel Wilson Made a Boss Move

While the numbers are impressive, the numbers are not the most impressive part of this deal. The most impressive part of the deal is the way that Russel Wilson made it happen. Wilson made it known to the Seahawks that he was willing to leave if he was not offered a satisfactory deal. Wilson entered negotiations with that understanding. He arbitrarily set an unofficial (as far as NFL rules are concerned) deadline of April 15. The Seahawks essentially had no choice but to comply or risk losing their franchise player at the end of the upcoming season.

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Wilson Joins a New Wave of Players Who Know Their Worth

Wilson is not the first NFL player to show the league that he knows his worth. Recently, there has been a shift in the mindset of NFL players as they enter their contract negotiations. Football is a brutal sport with a high susceptibility to injuries. Unlike the NBA and MLB, NFL contracts are not riddled with guaranteed money. While NFL players sign huge million dollar deals, much of it is not guaranteed. NFL players have taken their cue from NBA and MLB players and have been unapologetically standing up for what they believe they are worth.

Last season, Le’Veon Bell set a precedent when he sat out the entire season because he and the Pittsburg Steelers could not come to agreeable contract terms. As a result, Bell has recently been traded to the New York Jets. Bell signed a $52.5 million four-year deal. $35 million of that is guaranteed. Similarly, Antonio Brown had a very public rift with the Pittsburg Steelers that resulted in Brown forcing a trade to the Oakland Raiders.

Both Bell and Brown did something that is not often done in the NFL. They stood up for their worth. Yes, Bell may have lost money by sitting out an entire season but he won in the end. Bell won by showing the NFL that he will not just be grateful for the opportunity to play because he knows his worth. Brown showed that he will not be forced to stay in an uncomfortable situation. Wilson’s situation was not as contentious as Brown ‘s and Bell’s. However, Wilson still showed that he knows his worth and that he is not afraid to play hardball to get it.

This is the Dawn of a New Contract Era in the NFL

As can be seen from Wilson, Bell, and Brown there is a growing shift amongst NFL players to realize and fight for their worth. NFL Players are slowly but surely starting to make the NFL realize it needs to be more player-centric. NFL players are finally starting to realize that they are the ones putting their bodies on the line every Sunday. As a result of that, they should have more say and more opportunities for guaranteed money in their contracts. The NFL better be ready to adjust. The number of players making demands similar to Wilson, Bell, and Brown is only going to increase.

HTH: Tiger Woods Masters Tears, LeBron Blame, Russell Wilson Contract

Hot takes house, tiger woods, james harden

The Hot Takes House is open for business. In this edition: why Tiger Woods win at The Masters is the greatest comeback in sports, why blaming LeBron James for everything is thoughtless, and why Russell Wilson’s contract demands make him the smartest man in the NFL. Do not read any further if you are easily triggered. Read. Share. Leave a Comment.

Tiger Woods is the Greatest Comeback Sports History

There has never been an athlete who was dead and buried by the sports media more than Tiger Woods. Not only did they say he ran out of talent, they demanded he quit to stop the embarrassment.

The greatness of Tiger Wood’s comeback was his motivation shift. For years, talked about getting back to his old form, the desire to be great again, and repairing his name. None of those things worked. He tried to outwork the pain and injuries like he had done all his life. But, it didn’t work.

Only a father’s desire for his children to see him do something great was able to shift the tides. Tiger said he didn’t want his kids to believe he was just a “YouTube golfer.” As a father and former professional athlete whose kids were either young or unborn during my career, I understand why Tiger wanted his kids to see him be great. They had only seen injuries, scandal, and a father in severe physical pain over the last 11 years.

Seeing him accomplish his dreams with his children in attendance while 99% of people not named George Wrighster quit on him was amazing. I still don’t know who was cutting onions in my house after Tiger won.

Get Off the ‘Blame LeBron’ Train

When everyone in sports media jumps on a hot topic bandwagon, it is time to jump off. They will inevitably be wrong. Just like all those people who said Tiger Woods career was over.

The lowest hanging fruit in sports is to blame LeBron. It doesn’t matter whether it makes sense, is plausible, or fair, just blame LeBron

There was an article in Sporting News that blamed LeBron for NBA ratings being down. Is it LeBron’s job or in his control to carry interest in the entire NBA even though he only plays for one team?

Magic Johnson quit as Lakers President of Basketball operations this week; all sports media fingers started pointing to LeBron James. They said he pushed Magic out and is really in full control of the Lakers. I did not buy it for one second. I’m supposed to believe that Magic Johnson survived the NBA in the 80s, HIV, became a real estate mogul but got bullied by LeBron. LOL.

Sports media personalities would have you believe that the Lakers are a dumpster fire that cannot be fixed and it’s LeBron’s fault. Did they miss the previous 3 years before LeBron got there? Jeanie Buss and her siblings fought a legal battle over team control. They had scouting and general manager problems. The team had no direction and plan for the future. Was all that supposed to be solved by signing LeBron?

Get off the “Blame LeBron James Train” before it crashes and you end up on Cold Takes Exposed.

Russell Wilson is the Smartest Man in the NFL

Russell Wilson gave the Seahawks until end of day April 15th to get his new contract finalized. If they do not, he won’t be resigning and will become a free agent at the end of this season. The genius part of this is that Wilson wants his long term financial security tied to the escalation of the NFL salary cap.

Gambling on sports is now legal in many states, and the NFL will inevitably get in on the deal. That will trigger another salary cap spike, which will increase player salaries. Wilson knows he is one of the few elite quarterbacks in the game, and always wants to be paid like it. Most players would take huge money to become the NFL’s highest paid player without regard for future cap spikes.

Seahawks fans, don’t be upset with Russell Wilson if he can’t finish his career with the team. Owners started this disloyalty, and they aim to keep as much money in their pocket and not the players pocket. Russell Wilson won’t be another victim of one-sided NFL contracts.

Listen to the Podcast, there is even more on Tiger Woods Masters Win, Luke Walton and Kliff Kingsbury Failing Up, and LeBron James Blame.