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With some NFL training camps set to begin on Sunday, the NFL and Players Association have come to terms on an agreement on procedures and financials for the 2020 season.
Players approved the NFL’s plan, per source. There is a deal.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2020
With the agreement in place, all 32 NFL teams will be able to begin training camp in the coming week. Players will be reporting for Covid testing before returning home for two days of virtual meetings and then another day of testing. Players will also be given a ramp up period for conditioning before taking the field for various drills and walk-throughs in “shells.” Fully padded practices are not set to begin until much closer to the start of the regular season.
The biggest sticking point when it came to the final agreement had to do with player’s salaries, stipends, opt-out procedures for high-risk players, and salary cap implications. The most important thing is teams and players are moving forward on schedule towards holding the 2020 NFL season.
As the exact details of the agreement to become available, they will be updated and posted below. Somethings which have already been reported are a 16-man practice squad, no change to the 2020 salary cap, and a salary cap floor of $175 million for 2021.
Per source on NFL Covid opt outs: Players who make cuts get 300k stipend if season canceled, meaning no games are played
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 24, 2020
If cancelled before cut downs, players who were on team in 2019 get 250k.
Players were told on NFLPA rep call that, as long as you're on the Week 1 roster and you play at least one game, your contract this year won't toll and you'll still get an accrued season and benefits.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 24, 2020
UPDATE: Adam Schefter reveals some of the financial side of the deal.
Part of today’s deal between the NFL and the NFLPA is there will be no impact to the 2020 salary cap – it remains at $198 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2020
The cap cannot go lower than $175 million next year, but can go higher if revenues come in better than expected.
The loss of any potential revenue will be spread out over the next four years, through 2024.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2020
Players will have seven days from the time the agreement officially is signed, probably by Monday, to make a decision about whether to opt out for this season.