NFL Owners Say No Thanks to 2010 Salary Cap

NFL Owners Turn Down NFLPA Proposal

By lance Epstein

In a report by Boston.com and multiple other sources, the NFLPA made a last ditch effort to extend the current league's current salary cap rules, which the NFL has operated with over the last 4 seasons.

Ultimately, the owner's rejection doomed over 200 restricted fourth and fifth year free agents, which would have become unrestricted free agents. More importantly for the players, their player benefits would have been sustained.

Some of the high profile restricted free agents that would have become unrestricted include: Offensive Tackle Jammal Brown, guard Jahri Evans, Tight End Owen Daniels, Safeties Oshiomogho Atogwe and Nick Collins, Wide Receivers Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, Braylon Edwards, Running Backs Ronnie Brown and Pierre Thomas, Defensive Ends Elvis Dumerville and Ray Edwards and Middle Linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

The attempt by the player's association had two goals in mind. First, to assist and make the negotiations between the owners and players on a new collective bargaining agreement go smoother. Second, to get answers from the owners about why the player's should risk their health to play the 2010 season with uncertainty, while the league's revenue at an all-time high.

Either way this is looking like it is going to get ugly. The owners want even more revenue and rejected the proposal by the NFLPA. However, the owners still have the option to retain the player benefits for this upcoming season, but they would stand to lose $10 million by retaining it (obviously looks like most teams will not retain them.)

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/02/unions_pitch_fo.html