asalguero@MiamiHerald.com
The NFL's millionaires are getting richer, and the billionaires have secured their fortunes.
Welcome to labor peace in the NFL.
It was achieved last week after such contentious negotiating that at one point owners were bickering with other owners, rather than negotiating with the players' union. Deadlines were set and broken. The start of free agency was moved back three times.
But it got done, and
''This agreement is not about one side winning or losing,'' NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw said. ``Ultimately, it is about what is best for the players, the owners and the fans of the National Football League.''
The new agreement allowed free agency to open Saturday with 470 players able to make the best deal for themselves with any of the league's 32 teams.
And the deal gives players such as linebacker LaVar Arrington a chance to get a huge payday. Arrington gambled before the agreement was reached, basically paying $4.4 million to the Redskins in exchange for a chance to be a free agent.
He wanted out of
If a new deal had not been reached, teams would not have had enough money to pay the former Pro Bowl performer anywhere near the $4.4 million to help him break even.
But a new agreement increased the salary cap from $94.5 million to $102 million, and the added cap room means the Dolphins, Giants and Eagles -- all of whom are interested in Arrington -- might have the ability to sign him.
''Teams have room to do their business now,'' Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay said. ``That was definitely not going to be the case before.''
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/14076012.htm
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