March 9, 2006

Updated at 9 p.m. EST, March 9, 2006

Owners put lid on labor strife, gain cap relief

PFW asks associate editor Jeff Reynolds for his take on the NFL’s hottest topics.

Free agency begins Saturday

A collective sigh of relief from general managers, players, coaches and agents could be sensed on Wednesday evening, when commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that NFL owners had voted 30-2 to approve the latest proposal from the NFL Players Association. The league agreed to the proposal, which includes a revenue-sharing component that will cost owners nearly one billion dollars during the span of the six-year agreement. Early indications were that the free-agent signing period would begin at 12:01 a.m. EST Saturday. The salary cap, which would have been $94.5 million in 2006 without an agreement, will now be $102 million this year.

PFW: Who stands to benefit most from this new deal?

Reynolds: Players are in a far better position to enter the market with the mind that they will indeed get what they believe they have earned. Owners made the most extreme sacrifices. The terms of the new deal will add around $850 million in total player salaries over the life of the deal. Certainly, the top of the present free-agent class stands to win. Edgerrin James might still take a little bit less up front to return to the Colts, but he’s in line for a large contract, as are QB Drew Brees, RB Jamal Lewis and even soon-to-be free agent Terrell Owens. Veterans facing the guillotine, including Raiders QB Kerry Collins, have been spared, and good-natured agreements to reduce salary by marquee starters such as Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Derrick Brooks can be overturned now that each team faces a 2006 without a bleak ending.

The Vikings — with more than $30 million to spend — Browns, Niners, Cardinals, Bears, Jaguars and Packers all must be frothing to, finally, kick off free agency. Each has a surplus of salary-cap space and many needs to address.

Despite two “no” votes from Ralph Wilson (Bills) and Mike Brown (Bengals), everyone won on Thursday. Teams have more money to spend, the players will see more cash in the long run — the cap has increased some $16.5 million from $85.5 million in 2005 — and the high-revenue clubs sacrificed the most to keep the league in good standing.