League, players agree to changes in CBA

outstanding issues relating to the opening of training camps and start of the 2020 season. Training camps will begin as scheduled.

“We have worked collaboratively to develop a comprehensive set of protocols designed to minimize risk for fans, players, and club and league personnel.”

The player reps on each team must approve the changes, which could be interesting in that the biggest issue tackled by the league and the union dealt with the complexities of the salary cap.

The league initially wanted players to put up to 35 percent of their salaries in escrow to hedge against a dramatic drop in the 2021 salary cap. That infuriated the rank and file, which largely misunderstood it for a pay cut.

The salary cap of $198 million for 2020 will stand. No reductions although teams stand to lose at least $70 million each in revenues because of state-mandated reductions in attendance due to COVID.

However the league and the union agreed that the 2021 cap would be no less than $175 million, with anticipated revenue losses this season spread over the next four years according to Profootballtalk.com and Yahoosports.com.

Additionally, should the season be halted due to COVID-19, players will be paid only for the games they play in the 2020 season, although fully guaranteed contracts will be honored with payments in future years, according to Yahoo Sports. Each player on a roster for at least one game would accrue a season of experience if the season is halted.

Those were the major issues for the players, who got the league to do away totally with the preseason games and to guarantee daily COVID-19 testing until positive tests hit a low percentage.

The NFL, on the other hand, got the players to reduce training camp rosters from 90 to 80.

Reports also suggest the two sides are OK with increasing practice squads from 12 to 16 players and easing the eligibility requirements for two of those jobs. In essence, two spots would be available for vets with unlimited experience.

What this means for the NFL is there’s still a decent chance the season can begin on time, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs entertaining the Houston Texans on Thursday, Sept. 10.

What this means for the Eagles, assuming the player reps sign off on the CBA changes, is that everyone on the team can be tested

Tuesday for COVID-19, and that real football practices in pads can take place in three weeks.

The Eagles’ season begins Sept. 13 against – all together now – the Washington Football Team. That game is at FedEx Stadium, which threatened to end its sponsorship if Washington continued to be called the Redskins.

Make no mistake, the drama is just beginning for the Eagles and their NFL counterparts. It takes two negative tests 48 hours apart for a player to be admitted to team facilities. Thereafter, temperature checks will be taken at the door and several other safeguards, including wearing masks indoors, would come into play.

Testing began last week for Eagles rookies, who reported Tuesday. The rest of the team is slated to report next Tuesday.