Done deal?
We mentioned the NFL labor discussions on Tuesday.
Today, it appears that the deal is likely to be done in time for parts of it to be instilled this season.
The player representatives approved the league’s offer and will take it to the entirety of the players in the league for a vote.
By the talking points of some of the most-respected NFL news breakers, it will almost certainly get passed for a couple of reasons.
First, the deal is designed to help the majority of players – translation: Non-superstars – with a couple of key additions:
> Rosters – regular and practice – will expand, with the daily roster going from 53 to 55 eventually and practice squads going up to 14;
> The revenue share for the players will go from 47 percent to 48.5 percent, which is an increase to about $5 billion;
> The league minimum will be increased by at least $100,000.
That’s more money, more jobs and more opportunities – the benefits are better, even for practice-squad guys – from the solid starter down to the guy trying to hang on for one more season in the sun and another year of game checks.
Which begs a question and a thought on a “Which Way Wednesday.”
How can an operation run by billionaires and carried by millionaires do a better job of looking out for its middle class than the federal government?
And, if the NFL in its unquestioned position of power as the most impactful and popular pop culture entity anywhere can figure out its labor issues this quickly and smoothly, then every other league should take notes and never have a labor issue.