Murphy Makes Difference In Negotiations
Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy was instrumental in helping the two sides break through on the issue of rookie pay.
By PackerAaron
After weeks away from the negotiating table, Mark Murphy returned yesterday and immediately made a difference, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks between the NFL and the former players union.
According to Mike Freeman at CBS Sports, the owners made a significant concession on the issue of a rookie wage scale, enabling the two sides to come to an agreement on the issue late last evening. More than one source has told me that Murphy was a significant player in this development.
Murphy is thought to have angered many on the players side with remarks in late April regarding the NFL possibly doing "too much" for players. Whether that led to Murphy's prolonged absence from the negotiating table is unclear, but his return helped pave the way to a major breakthrough on an issue that had been holding up the current talks.
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Comments (4)
July 15, 2011 at 06:56 am
Let us hope sanity continues to prevail. Go Packers! Well done President Murphy.
July 15, 2011 at 01:03 pm
When Murphy made the comments about the NFL perhaps already doing "Too much" for players, I took his intending meaning to be that perhaps the league wasn't empowering players with the tools and support systems necessary to live a well rounded and complete life.. But perhaps the league was actually enabling players to live their lives without developing the necessary skills to succeed in life outside of the NFL.
That's how I took his statement, at any rate.. Let's face it, the league has created an environment for players that on many levels is akin to day care.. Make a mess? We've got the people on hand to clean it up for you, just a phone call away..
July 15, 2011 at 01:41 pm
per NFL.com:
"While the institution of rookie compensation system is a concession in itself, the players' side gave a little more in allowing some rules preventing the renegotiation of draft picks' deals until after three years. The owners' concessions came on the price tag for the fifth-year option for first-round picks, which the players want paid at the top of the market."
Without having any of the details.. This makes me wonder if we won't end up seeing some players who fall into the late rounds of the draft hoping they don't get drafted at all.
If the three-years-with-no-renegotiation only applies to drafted players, an undrafted free agent could end up in a more favorable position should he end up performing at a high enough level with the ability to renegotiate his contract before 3 years is up.
Especially when one considers the average career in the NFL is just under 3 years...
July 15, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Ooh, progress! Hooray!