NFL delays start of free agency period
The National Football League has decided to push back the start of the 2006 free agency period by three days, according to the league and its players' association.
NFL owners unanimously voted to halt talks with the union on a labor contract extension on Thursday, but both sides can now continue working toward a new deal.
Instead of Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. (et), the free agency period is now scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. (et) on Monday.
Teams would have had to begin cutting players on Thursday afternoon to trim payroll under the expected $94.5 million salary cap for the 2006 season and a number of high-profile names would likely have been among the casualties.
Earlier on Thursday, owners met for less than an hour and decided to reject the latest proposal from the union.
"It's as dire as dire can be," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during a Thursday morning news conference.
To make matters more complicated, NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has repeatedly stated in recent days that players would not agree to a salary cap again if a deal is not reached.
The current contract runs through the 2007 season, but there is no salary cap provision after the 2006 campaign.
The union is reportedly asking for 60 percent of league revenues in a revised labor deal, three percent more than it currently receives.
NFL owners unanimously voted to halt talks with the union on a labor contract extension on Thursday, but both sides can now continue working toward a new deal.
Instead of Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. (et), the free agency period is now scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. (et) on Monday.
Teams would have had to begin cutting players on Thursday afternoon to trim payroll under the expected $94.5 million salary cap for the 2006 season and a number of high-profile names would likely have been among the casualties.
Earlier on Thursday, owners met for less than an hour and decided to reject the latest proposal from the union.
"It's as dire as dire can be," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during a Thursday morning news conference.
To make matters more complicated, NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has repeatedly stated in recent days that players would not agree to a salary cap again if a deal is not reached.
The current contract runs through the 2007 season, but there is no salary cap provision after the 2006 campaign.
The union is reportedly asking for 60 percent of league revenues in a revised labor deal, three percent more than it currently receives.
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