Buffalo Bills 2011: Ramifications of the New Collective Bargaining Agreement

The NFL wwners are meeting this week with representatives from the NFL Players Association, in an attempt to finalize the negotiations for a new long-term collective bargaining agreement.

Some interesting details are starting to surface about specific points of interest, and it is with that in mind that we decided to see how these issues would impact the Buffalo Bills.

Obviously, there is not an agreement yet in place. However, if the points that were leaked are part of the final CBA verbiage, it is good for Bills fans to be aware of what is happening and what that means for not only the Bills organization, but for the fans as well.

Will Bills Ticket Prices Go Up Due to New CBA?

In a story by Chris Mortensen of ESPN, he specifically talks about the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, in the following passages.

Players believe they can justify a 48 percent take because of the projected revenue growth, as well as built-in mechanisms that require teams to spend close to 100 percent of the salary cap, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. The mandatory minimum spending increase is an element that concerns lower-revenue clubs, sources say.

For example, if the 2011 salary cap were to be at $120 million, a team would have to have a cash payroll of close to $120 million. In the previous collective bargaining agreement, the team payroll floor was less than 90 percent of the salary cap and was only in cap figures, not cash.

The higher floor proposal could cause some problems for the lower revenue teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. Along with the salary cap, teams have to pay an average of about $27 million a year in benefits.

So, the translation would be if the Bills were previously spending up to the high 80 percentile of their potential salary cap, now the NFL would require that they pony up to almost 100 percent of the salary cap. If Ralph Wilson can't afford that much in payroll, then ticket prices would be one of the first things that would go higher, in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses (literally).

Other Items Coming out of CBA Negotiations

From that same article on ESPN, the following other points were raised in the latest proposed details, which was put together by Chris Mortensen, John Clayton and Adam Schefter.

Proposed CBA Details

Details of a proposed collective bargaining agreement being pitched to NFL owners Tuesday, according to sources:

• Players get 48 percent of "all revenue."

• Players' share will never dip below 46.5 percent, 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-game 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 revenue projected to double to $18 million by 2016.

What Bills Players Will Become New Free Agents

Looking at the various points from the previous slide, the one that stood out for me was this:

• Four years needed for unrestricted free-agent status. Certain tags will be retained, but still being discussed.

So, if we can fast forward to the end of the 2011 season, that would mean that the following Bills players would all be considered free agents; Leodis McKelvin, Reggie Corner, Demetrius Bell, Jon Corto and Steve Johnson.

That group seems more manageable, but when you fast forward to the end of the 2012 season, you realize that lots of Bills will be free agents under this new CBA. They are: Felton Huggins, Scott Chandler, Shawn Nelson, Jonathan Stupar, Eric Wood, Andy Levitre, Chad Rinehart, Kraig Urbik, Aaron Maybin and Jairus Byrd.

The Bills will have to be pro-active in taking care of their "core players" and signing them to long-term deals so that these players never hit free agency.

How Will Rookie Wage Scale Impact Marcel Dareus?

Rookie wage scale part of deal but still being "tweaked."

If in fact there is a rookie wage scale, the Bills will have to make sure that they take care of Marcel Dareus, Aaron Williams, and Kelvin Sheppard to keep them happy. If a rookie is forced to earn less due to the new CBA, you know that they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder and will look to bolt the first chance that they can to make up for lost wages.

That is why the Bills have to be willing to work with these guys and create new longer deals when it is feasible to do so. Obviously, Dareus will make more than Williams or Sheppard, but the last thing you want is for him to be upset at the Bills if he thinks he should be making more.

Will the Bills Have More Nationally Televised Games?

With young exciting players like C.J. Spiller and Marcel Dareus, the Bills are hoping that their successful draft classes under Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey will lead to the team showing continued improvement and getting closer to becoming a playoff worthy team.

Once the Bills threaten to become a playoff team, you will see them popping up on more nationally televised games. The point in the CBA negotiations that sights the prospect of a full 16 game Thursday night package, opens up the window for more Bills games to be nationally televised.

It has been several years since the Bills have been on national TV, and we all recall how those games have turned out, so no need to open up old wounds.

Other Ramifications of the New CBA

Trying to read between the lines here. If the Bills have been spending in the high 80's percentile of the NFL salary cap, and they will be required to spend close to 100 percent, who are the additional players that the team is spending this revenue on?

We can only speculate at this point, but one are would be on the Bills current free agents. Paul Pozluszny, Donte Whitner and Drayton Florence would be a good place to start. 

Next up after that is to take care of Ryan Fitzpatrick, and let him know that he has some job security. It may be only two or three years, but I think you want him to be happy and know that his short term future has been properly addressed.

The next logical step is to sign free agents that address specific needs, such as a backup veteran quarterback, a starting caliber tackle like Jared Gaither, and another pass rusher to compliment Shawne Merriman would be ideal.

Once they have taken care of those issues, then the Bills could look to address the crop of players that will be coming up for free agency after 2011 and try to sign them to extended deals. That would include Demetrius Bell, Steve Johnson and Leodis McKelvin.

What Other Options Does Ralph Wilson Have?

As we discussed in an earlier slide, if the Bills are being forced by the NFL to spend more revenue on player contracts, ticket prices may be one of the first areas that gets bumped up as a way to lessen the financial burden to the team.

Outside of that, the other areas would be stadium parking and concessions. The other option is to look to extend the arrangement with Toronto. On the surface, Bills fans may not want to think about going through another four or five more years of losing one of their home games, so that brings us to this question:

Would you rather pay more for season tickets knowing that the Bills are spending more on acquiring talent for the team, or lose one home game for the next four to five years to Toronto?

Feel free to leave your comments on any issue of the new potential CBA and we will hash it out there.