NFL, NFLPA At Odds Over Salary Escrow Proposal
In order to mitigate a potential $4B loss in revenue that could arise if the 2020 NFL season is played without fans, the league submitted a proposal to the union whereby 35% of player salaries would be held in escrow, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). The union’s response? “Kick rocks,” per NFLPA executive Don Davis (Twitter link via Pelissero).
The union believes that such an escrow agreement must be collectively bargained, and Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic believes the two sides will ultimately agree to a smaller percentage (Twitter link). Kaplan thinks the NFL’s proposal was simply an opening salvo, with the league estimating that the prospective lost revenue will equate to about 35% of the salary cap. Mark Maske of the Washington Post says the escrow proposal could help to avoid a major drop in the 2021 cap, but players are not reacting favorably to the idea thus far (Twitter link).
The union and the league have been arguing over certain safety protocols, the number of preseason games, etc. Now that economics have joined the fray, many have pointed to the protracted battle between Major League Baseball and its union as a harbinger of things to come for the NFL. But to be clear, as Maske tweets, NFL players ultimately would be paid any money that is put into escrow. The only issue — albeit a significant one — is when the money would be paid. Pelissero says the union wants to spread out the damage created by a lost season over the course of the 11-year CBA, and the league wants to do it more quickly (video link).
The league and union have come together on training camp facility protocols, but a lot of work still needs to be done in almost every other aspect of COVID-19 matters, and there is not much time to get these issues resolved.
NFL, NFLPA Agree To Training Camp Facility Protocol
The league and union are still at odds over a number of issues, but at least they have come together on one key point: a club facility protocol for training camp. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the two sides are in agreement on a three-tier framework for facility access.
Florio writes that the agreed-upon structure largely mirrors the directive the NFL issued last month. Tier 1 will include players, coaches, trainers, doctors, the strength and conditioning coach, and the head equipment manager. Tier 2 includes non-playing personnel like the GM, and Tier 3 includes employees who perform facility or event services but who do not need to come into contact with Tier 1 personnel. One week before training camp, teams must submit to the league a list of personnel who will fall under each tier, a process that has generated some heated debate within some organizations.
The protocol, of course, emphasizes strict physical distancing requirements, including the reconfiguration of locker rooms to allow six feet between every player. When in the facility, players must be at least six feet apart at all times, and saunas and steam rooms will not be used.
Players were pushing for all team meetings to be held virtually, and the protocol holds that virtual meetings will be held “to the extent possible.” If an in-person meeting is conducted, it should be held outdoors.
The protocol also allows for up to two fan events at a team’s stadium during training camp — contingent upon the state’s regulations — but obviously fans will not be permitted on the field and will not have contact with players.
Importantly, the protocol makes no mention of the frequency or type of COVID-19 testing. Per Florio, that will likely be covered in a separate document.
NFLPA Recommends Canceling Preseason
We heard yesterday that the NFLPA might be pushing to cancel the preseason, and indeed, the union’s board of player reps have unanimously recommended that no preseason games be played, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). That decision was reached during last night’s call between the player reps and NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer, details of which can be found here.
As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, the preseason schedule was also discussed during today’s phone call, which was open to all players (Twitter link). The union has floated the following summer schedule, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Twitter):
- Three days of medical and equipment checks;
- 21 days of strength and conditioning;
- 10 days of unpadded practice; and
- 14 days of practice, with a maximum of ten practice sessions, eight of which would be padded.
From there, the schedule would shift immediately to Week 1 of the regular season. And as Pelissero notes in a separate tweet, players would be divided into smaller groups during the strength and conditioning and unpadded practice portions of the schedule, which would buy an extra month of time before everyone would have to come together for the padded sessions.
Of course, the NFL has full authority over whether to schedule preseason games or not, and Graziano notes that it’s unclear whether the league will consider the union’s recommendation. As Breer points out in a separate tweet, teams would lose out on gate revenue — if fans are allowed in stands, which is a dubious proposition — and local TV money. Plus, the NFL Network usually sees its highest ratings in August, so cancelling the preseason slate altogether would be a tough pill to swallow.
David Njoku Requests Trade; Cowboys Interested?
Browns tight end David Njoku has requested a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the team is not looking to move him and would likely ask for a first-round pick if it were to swing a deal. But Njoku’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client is intent on a trade and wants it to happen before training camp opens.
Njoku’s stance is perfectly reasonable. The Browns signed Austin Hooper to be their TE1 this offseason, and while the club exercised Njoku’s fifth-year option for 2021 earlier this year, that option is guaranteed for injury only. So it’s easy to foresee a scenario in which Njoku cedes snaps to Hooper, doesn’t look like a major part of the offense, and has his option declined, which would make him a UFA without a ton of bargaining power.
On the other hand, a trade now would perhaps allow the 23-year-old Miami product to get a fresh start as the top TE target elsewhere, which could in turn make him a candidate for a lucrative multi-year extension. As Cabot (via Twitter), Njoku just fired his prior agent, Malki Kawa, two days ago, and hired Rosenhaus, who wasted no time in making a characteristically bold move.
Njoku’s size and speed combination made him a tantalizing first-round prospect in 2017, when the Browns snapped him up with the No. 29 overall selection. He started to live up to some of his promise in 2018, when he started 14 games and caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four TDs. Unfortunately, a wrist injury wiped out most of his 2019 season, and the Browns could not resist the chance to add Hooper when free agency opened earlier this year.
Given his age and upside, Njoku profiles as a very intriguing trade target for a TE-needy club, especially since he is due just $1.76MM this year. Even his fifth-year option salary checks in at just north of $6MM, so the Browns should not have difficulty finding a trade partner. But new head coach Kevin Stefanski runs an offense that frequently features two-TE sets, so it makes sense that Cleveland would ask for a first-round pick in return.
One of Cabot’s sources say the Cowboys could have interest in Njoku. Dallas added to its receiving corps already by drafting talented wideout CeeDee Lamb in the first round, but its TE depth chart is currently topped by fourth-year pro Blake Jarwin. Jarwin performed reasonably well as the Cowboys’ TE2 behind Jason Witten in 2019, but Njoku would represent a clear upgrade.
49ers’ DB D.J. Reed Suffers Torn Pec
The injuries keep mounting for the 49ers. Defensive back D.J. Reed suffered a torn pectoral during a recent workout, per Matt Maiocco of NBS Sports Bay Area. Reed subsequently confirmed the injury via Twitter.
Reed, 23, was selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. In his rookie campaign, he played in a little more than 1/3 of the team’s defensive snaps and was also a regular special teams contributor. He tallied 41 tackles and a sack and returned 11 kickoffs for 332 yards, including a 90-yarder.
His playing time took a nosedive in 2019, however. He ended up appearing in just 12% of the Niners’ defensive snaps, and he did not get any kick return opportunities. Still, the team values his ST abilities and his versatility, which allows him to line up outside the numbers, in the slot, and at safety. Plus, since Richie James is also dealing with an injury, Reed may have gotten another shot at return duties.
The timeframe for Reed’s return is not yet known, though it’s worth noting that San Francisco LB Kwon Alexander also suffered a torn pec last year. He sustained the injury on October 31 and returned to practice two months later. He was back in action for the club’s postseason run, which began on January 11.
In addition to the Reed and James injuries, the 49ers are planning to be without top wide receiver Deebo Samuel for a bit. Samuel broke his foot last month.
Top Edge Rushers Still Available
Putting pressure on the opposing quarterback is critical to a team’s success in today’s NFL, and there are a number of players still languishing on the free agent market who are capable of doing just that. While the pandemic has understandably made teams leery of authorizing big-money contracts, some of the available talent can be had for a fairly minimal commitment, and it would not be surprising to see them come off the board as we get closer (hopefully) to training camp.
So let’s take a look at the best of the unsigned pass rushers.
- Jadeveon Clowney: Not many players have been in the news more than Clowney this offseason. By now, everyone knows that Clowney was seeking a multi-year deal with an AAV of at least $20MM when free agency opened, but he has had to modify his demands in a big way. The Browns are believed to have two offers on the table: a one-year pact worth $15MM, and a multi-year contract worth around $12MM/year. Cleveland does not seem to be high on Clowney’s list of preferred destinations, but the club does have the makings of a postseason contender. It will be interesting to see if another team tries to top the Browns’ proposals to land a potentially game-changing talent.
- Everson Griffen: Back in May, Griffen was rated as our No. 3 best available free agent, and he would be the No. 2 talent on that list today now that Cam Newton has signed with the Patriots. Shortly after the list was published, we heard that the Cardinals may be interested, but nothing has transpired on the Griffen front in the last six weeks. The 32-year-old showed that he still has plenty left in the tank after registering eight sacks in 2019, and the fact that he is still unsigned may indicate that his contract demands are too high right now.
- Ezekiel Ansah: The Seahawks paired Clowney with Ansah in 2019 with the hopes of creating a true two-headed pass-rushing monster. That did not exactly work out as planned, as Clowney managed just three sacks and Ansah posted 2.5 while playing in 11 games. Ansah just couldn’t regain the form that he displayed during his best years with the Lions, and it certainly seems as if he does not have another double-digit sack campaign in him. Still, he is another year removed from the shoulder injury that marred his 2018 season and delayed his 2019 debut, so he will surely get a chance to be a part of someone’s pass rush rotation in 2020.
- Michael Bennett: Bennett wants to play in 2020, but thus far, it doesn’t sound as if there has been much interest in his services. The three-time Pro Bowler enjoyed a nine-sack effort with the Eagles in 2018, but he was traded to the Patriots in March 2019 and clashed with New England brass. In October, the Pats shipped him to the Cowboys, for whom he posted four sacks in nine games. In total, he collected 6.5 sacks last year while playing fewer snaps than he is accustomed to. He may very well start to attract more interest once camp gets underway.
- Markus Golden: No one other than the incumbent Giants has expressed interest in Golden since free agency began, and it seems like the 29-year-old will be back with Big Blue in 2020. The Giants put the rarely-used UFA tender on him, which means that he will only be eligible to play for New York if he does not sign another offer prior to the start of training camp (presently scheduled for July 28). Though Golden posted 10 sacks in 2019, he did so off of just 26 pressures, which teams likely see as an unsustainable conversion rate. The UFA tender would pay Golden $4.125MM this season.
- Jabaal Sheard: Sheard has never quite lived up to his potential as a game-changing pass rusher, and the 8.5 sacks he totaled in his rookie season in 2011 remain a career high. But he has averaged over five sacks per season over the course of a mostly-durable nine-year career, and he still looks the part of a starting DE. Fresh off a reasonably productive three-year stint with the Colts, Sheard has not yet been connected to any club this offseason.
- Clay Matthews: Matthews opened the 2019 campaign with his hair on fire, posting six sacks in the first five games of the season. It appeared that the two-year, $16.75MM contract the Rams gave to the longtime Packer in March 2019 was going to pay off in a big way, but Matthews suffered a broken jaw in October that derailed his season. He picked up two more sacks the rest of the way, and LA cut ties with him earlier this year. There have been no public reports of interest in the 34-year-old, but he could be a valuable veteran presence if deployed in the right way.
- Vinny Curry: Curry has always been a situational pass rusher. Even when he started all 16 regular-season games for the Eagles in 2017, he played in just over half of the club’s defensive snaps. His one year in Tampa Bay in 2018 was not a smashing success, but he returned to Philadelphia in 2019 to reprise his role as a player who can come in on passing downs and who represents a legitimate threat to get to the quarterback. The Jets were said to be interested in him in March, and Gang Green could still use pass rushing help, but the two sides have not yet come together on an agreement.
- Terrell Suggs: Suggs’ career accomplishments stand head and shoulders above those of most everyone else on this list. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and seven-time Pro Bowler has 139 career sacks to his credit, but he finally started to slow down in 2018, his final year in Baltimore, and he looked the part of an aging defender during his 13-game stint with the Cardinals in 2019. Arizona cut him late last season and he was scooped up by the Chiefs, which allowed him to collect his second Super Bowl ring. It’s unclear if T-Sizzle has any interest in continuing his playing career, but he has nothing left to prove.
- Cameron Wake: Another player that would be higher on this list if not for his age, Wake was released by the Titans in March. The 38-year-old has said he wants to keep playing, but after a terrific run with the Dolphins from 2009-18, Wake’s one year with Tennessee did not go according to plan. He registered just two sacks in nine games and missed the final stretch of the season with a back injury. He might well be healthy now, but we are unaware of any teams with interest at this point.
Redskins Expected To Change Name
The Redskins’ team name has been heavily criticized for some time for its racial overtones, though owner Dan Snyder previously avowed that he would never change the name. But as someone once said, “never say never.”
Facing renewed pressure to make a change, including a request from stadium sponsor FedEx, the club is undertaking a thorough review of the team name. The team issued the following statement (h/t Adam Schefter of ESPN.com via Twitter):
” In light of recent events around our country and feedback from our community, the Washington Redskins are announcing the team will undergo a thorough review of the team’s name. This review formalizes the initial discussions the team has been having with the league in recent weeks.
Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, stated, ‘This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the local community it is proud to represent on and off the field.’
Ron Rivera, Head Coach of the Washington Redskins, remarked, ‘This issue is of personal importance to me and I look forward to working closely with Dan Snyder to make sure we continue the mission of honoring and supporting Native Americans and our military.’
We believe this review can and will be conducted with the best interest of all in mind.”
Schefter believes the mere fact that the review is taking place is a clear indication that the name will indeed be changed. And sources tell Rick Maese, Mark Maske, and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post that the process will end in a new name and mascot, which could happen by the start of the 2020 season. After all, it would be a bad look, even by Snyder’s standards, to undergo a review and not make a change. While there’s not yet any clarity as to what the new name will be, Rivera’s comments suggest that it will somehow pay homage to the nation’s military.
Investment firms worth about $620B recently asked Nike, FedEx, and PepsiCo to end their relationships with the Redskins, and it could be that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Nike removed the Redskins name and their merchandise from its website Thursday night. The Tennessee Titans — the last team to change their name, after a two-year Tennessee Oilers phase — now reside at the bottom of the shoe giant’s list of teams.
Meanwhile, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a brief statement indicating that he has been discussing the matter with Snyder in recent weeks and is supportive of what appears to be an impending change.
COVID-19 Notes: Protocols, Fines, Opt-Outs
Last night, the NFLPA held a conference call with player reps and NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer to discuss safety protocols and other issues relating to how training camp and the season will proceed. Dan Graziano of ESPN.com has a comprehensive report on the call, and some of the most relevant highlights are as follows:
- Mayer opened the call by updating everyone on the virus in general, with a reminder that African American males are especially susceptible and that false negatives are a legitimate concern. As such, any player that tests positive would need to test negative twice before being allowed to return to action.
- Players could face fines for engaging in “reckless” behavior away from team facilities, such as eating out in restaurants and using ride-sharing services.
- Players will not stay in hotels during training camp, but instead will commute from their homes each day.
- Mayer provided updates on the development of face shields, though some on the call were opposed to the shields, believing that they would be detrimental to their vision and their breathing.
- Some confusion was expressed as to why the league is trying to move forward at all given how dangerous COVID-19 is. Some unanswered questions that players want resolved include what will happen to their contracts if they elect not to play, what will happen to the 2021 salary cap, and what will happen if they initially agree to play but then grow uncomfortable as the season wears on.
- Media access will be limited.
- Most meetings will be conducted virtually.
- The current plan is to test players and team personnel every other day during camp, but players are pushing for daily testing.
There is another call scheduled for today that will be open to all players, not just player reps. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, the league and the union need to quickly come to terms on what will essentially be a one-season labor agreement in order to preserve the 2020 campaign. If that does not happen, a “non-traditional” work stoppage could certainly be in the offing.
Florio’s sources say that players are expected to have the right to opt out of the 2020 season, and if they do so, they would be forfeiting their base salary but not their bonuses. They would also not face any fines. However, it is still unclear how many players would take avail themselves of their opt out rights and how many would press on.
Indeed, while some states have experienced a decline in positive tests, numbers across the country are still going up, which was not supposed to happen. In an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday (h/t Florio), Dr. Anthony Fauci opined that the disturbing resurgence of the pandemic has put the NFL season completely in flux.
Browns Sign Jordan Elliott
The Browns have signed third-round draft pick Jordan Elliott, the team announced. Elliott is the fourth member of the club’s 2020 draft class to sign his rookie deal.
This season, Elliott will attempt to crack Cleveland’s interior DL rotation behind Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson. But Ogunjobi is eligible for unrestricted free agency next year, and Richardson is set to carry a cap hit of nearly $14MM with a minimal dead cap charge in 2021, so Elliott could be in line for a bigger role soon if he performs well.
Elliott started his collegiate career at Texas before transferring to Missouri. He became a full-time starter in 2019, recording 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks en route to All-SEC first team honors. He should be stout against the run right away, and while he has the potential to make an impact as an interior pass rusher, he will need more development in that regard.
Per the terms of his slot, Elliott will take home a four-year pact worth about $4.5MM, with a signing bonus just shy of $900K.
Here’s the rundown of where things stand with Cleveland’s seven-man class, courtesy of PFR’s tracker:
1-10: Jedrick Wills, T (Alabama)
2-44: Grant Delpit, S (LSU)
3-88: Jordan Elliott, LB (Missouri): Signed
3-97: Jacob Phillips, LB (LSU)
4-115: Harrison Bryant, TE (Florida Atlantic): Signed
5-160: Nick Harris, C (Washington): Signed
6-187: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR (Michigan): Signed
AFC Notes: Simmons, Newton, Ravens
Broncos safety Justin Simmons has still not signed his franchise tender, and like most players seeking new contracts, Simmons’ negotiations have been impacted in a big way by the pandemic. As a result, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post believes Simmons is more likely to play out the 2020 campaign on his $12.7MM tender than land a multi-year pact. The one caveat to that would be if Simmons is willing to give Denver a hometown discount, but there have been no real indications that he is willing to do so.
However, O’Halloran does not expect the process to be an ugly one, and he fully believes Simmons will sign his tender and report to camp if there is no new deal in place by the July 15 deadline.
Let’s take a quick trip around the AFC:
- Much has been made of the minimal guarantee and base salary that 2015 MVP Cam Newton stands to earn under his new one-year pact with the Patriots. 49ers CB Richard Sherman took to Twitter to express his outrage over the deal, calling it “disgusting” that a player like Newton would have to settle for such chump change (and ignoring the myriad injury concerns that led to the contract). But Newton himself, in his first public comments about the financial details (via Instagram), said simply “[t]his is not about money for me. It’s about respect.” A productive season in Foxborough would lead to Newton’s market rebounding in a big way in 2021, though the Pats may be inclined to use the franchise tag on him if that happens.
- The Ravens lost future Hall-of-Fame RG Marshal Yanda to retirement this offseason, and though the club has a number of young players who could replace him, the pandemic will likely give veterans a leg up over less experienced talents. As such, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic expects D.J. Fluker to win the starting right guard gig, while 2019 left guard Bradley Bozeman is the clear favorite to reprise his role in 2020.
- In the same piece linked above, Zrebiec notes that the Ravens, who recently cut veteran LB Jake Ryan, did so because both sides realized that Ryan — who has only played in two games since 2017 — still wasn’t healthy and wouldn’t have enough time to get healthy and learn the team’s defense.
- In case you missed it, Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue may be prepared to sit out the entire 2020 season if he does not get traded.