With professional sports coming back and the potential for fewer or even no fans in the stands, owners have asked for concessions from the players unions to help offset costs.
The NFL is no different.
Tuesday, the league proposed 35 percent of player salaries be held in escrow to help manage costs during the season.
Player reaction was as expected.
Them boys tried us with a 35% pay cut?
— Devin Bush ll (@_Dbush11) July 7, 2020
In reality, it wasn't necessarily a pay cut. But the players most certainly see it that way.
Lol everyone will sit out and not play until they get their stuff together before we do this ? https://t.co/cqOuQfQvr8
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) July 7, 2020
The proposal is just one on the table for the NFL, which is concerned that falling revenues because stadiums will not be at full capacity could affect the salary cap in 2021 and beyond.
The league also is discussing ways to potentially increase roster sizes in case teams have issues with players testing positive with coronavirus and then being forced to sit out for an extended period of time.
NFL training camps are scheduled to open July 28, meaning the league has just under three weeks to work out some kind of compromise with its players for the 2020 season or have them play at full pay.
That could affect long-term salary caps, as the players receive a percentage of revenue based on the previous season's intake. Some estimates have the cap falling by as much as $30 million per team from its current level of $198.2 million if games are played without fans in stadiums.
As things currently stand, the NFL also has made no official decisions on preseason games, other than to postpone this year's Hall of Fame game, which would have involved the Steelers and Cowboys.
Some reports have said the NFL is planning on playing two preseason games, while the NFLPA voted last week to hold none.
