quentinJackson and Mankins Want To Be Free Agents Or Money From Antitrust Lawsuit
July 19th 2011 18:34
The wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers, Vincent Jackson, and New England Patriots guard, Logan Mankins, are demanding to become unrestricted free agents once the lockout is over or receive $10 million dollar payments as part of the settlement of the Brady vs. NFL antitrust lawsuit. Both players were franchise tagged from their teams before the NFL lockout started in March. The Brady lawsuit is one of the final items that needs to be resolved in order for the NFL and its players to agree on the new CBA. Sources told John Clayton of ESPN that neither Jackson nor Mankins have been contacted recently about a settlement to the Brady lawsuit. The league's sources had told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the limit of franchise tags on the plaintiffs in the Brady antitrust lawsuit could be the anchor to a settlement in that case. There was a case prior to players like Jackson and Mankins that demanded free agency. In the 1993's Reggie White vs. the NFL, it instituted free agency; the plaintiffs were granted a lifetime exemption from the franchise tag.
Sources that are familiar with the ongoing talks told Adam Schefter that all the sides in the labor dispute are open to rolling the problems, the Brady antitrust and television “insurance lockout” cases, into a global settlement. This means that two cases, along with the retired players' lawsuit and all other legal issues, would be exonerated if the players promulgate a new collective bargaining agreement, which is expected to cover the next ten years. This would be the quickest way to get the lockout lifted. As part of the pending deal, the NFL and its players' have agreed to increase benefits for retired players by nearly $1 billion over the life of the contract. On Wednesday, members of the NFLPA's executive committee, representatives, and players will vote on the proposed CBA, assuming both sides address the unresolved issues beforehand. The NFL sent out a memo to all 32 teams on Monday, instructing key executives to attend Thursday's owner meeting in Atlanta. Each team will have two representatives (the owner and one executive) in the room to vote on a CBA, if one is agreed to by players and owners. If the owners ratify a new CBA on Thursday, players can begin arriving at facilities on Friday and team activities on Monday. In order for the CBA to be passed, it will more than a 50% vote from players and at least 24 owners to agree on it.
Including in the new proposed CBA are:
Players get 48% of all revenue.
Players' share will never dip below 46.5%, under new formula being negotiated.
Teams required to spend close to 100 percent of the salary cap.
Rookie wage scale part of deal but still being tweaked
Four years needed for unrestricted free-agent status. Certain tags will be retained, but still being discussed.
18 game regular season designated only as negotiable item and at no point is mandated in deal.
Full 16 games Thursday night TV package beginning in 2014.
Owners still will get some expense credits that will allow funding for new stadiums.
Retirees to benefit from improved health care, pension benefits as revenues projected to double to $18 million by 2016.
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