So I’ve been watching the NFL draft the past several days, and I’ve come up with how to fix football. It’s scary easy.
So first, take 5% of all income and shunt it toward medical/pensions/etc for retired players. They need the help, therefore the league ought to take care of the people who made them money in the past.
Second, take 10% of all income off the top and dedicate it towards things like stadiums and anything else that will be a direct investment for the league. In other words, money designed to make more money.
Of the remaining 85% (which last year would still be around 7 and a half billion dollars), split it 45/55 owners and players, primarily because the 10% off the top toward stadiums is directly controlled by the owners
That leaves a salary cap of right around 130 million (again assuming a 9 billion dollar income; this will likely increase).
Now onto the details of the players side of things:
1) Keep franchise tag (average of 5 highest paid players at position; 1st round compensation), get rid of transition tag
2) 1st year contracts at 3 years across the board, therefore restricted free agency at end of 3rd year, unrestricted free agency after that. Option of 6 tenders (2nd-7th round draft pick, range between league minimum and median salary at position).
3) Rookie salaries decided by selection in draft, total amount a team may spent on all 1st year players is 20% of salary cap. (Assumes approximately 10 players on 53-man roster will be 1st year players). Also, amount of guaranteed money can be no more than average of 5 lowest paid starters at said position.
Thus, tl;dr is this (in absolute percentages):
1) 46.75% of all league income to players
Minimum 37.4% of league income to veteran players
Maximum 9.35% of league income to rookie players
2) 38.25% of all league income to owners
3) 10% of all league income to investments (ie, stadiums and other things that directly make money)
4) 5% of all league income to retired players.
Too bad no-one is listening to me.