At least three rounds of Collective Bargaining Agreement discussions have been held, Mike Florio of PFT hears. One of the key issues being discussed is the handling of “stadium credits” – the NFL wants to push a significant amount of the money that currently is shared between owners and players to stadium construction and renovation projects.
The NFLPA, meanwhile, might not be so willing to do that. The player’s union doesn’t necessarily want to pay for the league’s stadiums and it’s not clear what they would receive in return. Furthermore, the union would likely insist on input in key decisions as they relate to stadiums or even team relocation. For example, in this scenario, Florio wonders if the union could have hypothetically blocked the Rams from moving to Los Angeles when there was a path to success available in St. Louis.
If the player’s union does get involved in the business of stadiums and gains power in terms of team relocation, it could have a direct impact on the future of the Bills in Buffalo. With a seat at the table, players may lean more towards moving teams when it means an increase in overall revenue and, by extension, more money towards the salary cap.
This concept of the bills relocating is ludicrous. It’s not going to happen.
I agree but remember this is the NFL. We are talking about the league that move the Colts literally in the middle of the night and let the Browns leave Baltimore and their past behind.
Yes. But in that case the owner of the team decided to move the team. Not the league commissioner.
It’s not ludicrous. I don’t care for it, but its pretty clear that top FA’s don’t have interest in playing there.
I disagree with that. It was only a few years ago that the bills signed the premier FA in Mario Williams. The bills also re-signed Shady Mccoy in his prime when he easily could have forced buffalo to move him. Further, while not as flashy, the premier interior OL FA, Mitch Morse signed with the bills. And finally, while not premier free agents, Cole Beasley, John brown and multiple other free agents that signed with buffalo this off-season cited the incredible, massive new practice and training facility as a major reason why they decided to sign with buffalo. People get caught up in the AB fiasco and just assume that no one wants to go to Buffalo. I doubt that proposition heavily. In the end, if Josh Allen becomes a good QB and the bills become contenders, FAs will flock there. Very few players actually prefer a FA destination by location. It’s usually about the money offered and the talent on the team.
I see a Pandora box opening if the NFL pushes this…..
Florio needs to stop doing drugs. Under no circumstance would the owners ever allow players to dictate where they can operate. The idea that some backup UFA on a one year contract is going to tell Robert Kraft or Jerry Jones how to run their business is ludicrous.
I agree that it’s a crazy notion, but not much more crazy than the owners thinking that the players would be OK with some of their shared revenue going towards stadium construction projects. Doing so offers no direct benefit to the players other than possible long-term implications. The players would need a lot more direct and immediate incentive to share that revenue than just possibilities.
I agree with you. The only way players would go for that deal is if the owners agreed to increase guaranteed money on contracts and the owners are not anxious to do that.