NFL PA Proposal Day by Day

March 5, 2006
STATEMENT BY NFL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
OF LABOR RELATIONS HAROLD HENDERSON
"The union rejected a proposal that would have increased player compensation to unprecedented levels. Our offer would have added a minimum of $1.5 billion in new dollars for players over the six years of the extension. It is an unfortunate situation for the players, the fans, and the league."

In addition, Henderson noted that the NFL's offer would have increased player compensation in 2006 by $577 million over 2005 and that there was no discussion of revenue sharing with the union during today's negotiations, which were broken off by the union.

NFL Statement:
"The NFL and the NFL Players Association have agreed to extend the start of the 2006 league year for 72 hours -- until 12:01 a.m. ET, Thursday, March 9 -- in order to allow the NFL clubs to meet in Dallas on Tuesday to consider the NFL Players Association's offer."

NFLPA PRESS RELEASE
MARCH 5, 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gene Upshaw issued the following statement this evening:

"The talks ended today after the NFL gave us a proposal which provided a percentage of revenues for the players which would be less than they received over the last 12 years. After suggesting we extend the waiver deadline from six o'clock to ten this evening, they gave us a new proposal which was worse than their prior offer. Quite naturally, we rejected that proposal and saw no need to continue meeting."

"Under our previous cap agreement, we got just less than 60 per cent of all of the revenues. The NFL now wants us to cut that percentage to less than 57 per cent. Given the enormous revenue growth the NFL is experiencing, I am not about to give back gains which we have made in the past. It is clear to
me that we will do much better under our current CBA in 2006 and particularly in 2007, the uncapped year.

"I continue to believe that the problem lies with the high revenue clubs and the revenue sharing issue. Their refusal to share more revenues is making it worse for everybody-- players, owners, and fans."

3/5/06
6:29 a.m.

As of moments ago, I was told by a source connected to an NFL franchise,
that the NFL and the NFLPA have come to an agreement and that the only thing
holding it back it the ratification of ownership. He told me: "all we need
now is a couple of the fat cats to put the ego away and the deal is done."
Let's keep our fingers crossed and I will update the situation in my blog.

3/4/06
Lansing, Michigan
8:50 p.m.

As of moments ago, the NFL owners and the NFLPA had stopped talks for the evening. They have agreed on the 58% figure, but are still negotiating the cash over the cap. That is a way that teams circumvent the cap by giving huge up front signing bonuses to players, and sign them to a ridiculous time, like 10 years. Well, we all know that I will be thin before an NFL player reaches that. It allows teams with lots of cash, to sign players since contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed and wager against future years of the salary cap.

Let's all hope that this moves forward in the morning.

3/2/06
5:01 p.m.

In a last minute arrangement, literally agreed to moments ago, the NFL is delaying the start of free agency for 72 hours.

Although my source would not say that a deal is at hand, he did say that it is very close.

Keep your fingers crossed!

H

Later that day.....

March 2, 2006
NFL Statement:
"The NFL and the NFL Players Association have agreed to extend the start of
the 2006 league year for 72 hours -- until 12:01 a.m. ET, Monday, March 6 --
in order to provide time to resume negotiations. The league year had been
set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, March 3."