NFL owners will go with union’s proposal

NFL owners chose the certainty of a salary cap over the prospect of life without one, and they’re paying for it.

The league agreed Wednesday to accept the union’s proposal, including a revenue-sharing component that will cost owners nearly a billion dollars over the next six years.

The deal will carry the NFL’s 32 franchises through the 2011 season. Two low-revenue teams, Buffalo and Cincinnati, cast the only votes against.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said $850 million to $900 million in players’ salary will be added over the life of the deal because of the revenue-sharing component, which the union fought for throughout the on-again, off-again talks.

Now the league’s free agency period, put off twice by protracted negotiations, will start either Friday or Saturday to give teams additional time to get under the newly elevated salary cap.

The spending limit for teams will be $102 million this year, $7.5 million more than it would have been without a deal. The salary cap for the 2005-2006 season was $85.5 million.

The cap will increase to $109 million in 2007, which would have been an uncapped year that would have widened the spending gap between teams even more.

“We want teams to get additional money to re-sign players, rather than cutting them,” Tagliabue said.

The deal was put together by nine teams who began on different sides of the revenue debate, including such high-revenue teams as New England and Dallas.

“We were willing to make some sacrifices to get this thing done,” said Dallas owner Jerry Jones, the most vocal opponent of revenue sharing. “The proposal from the union was a mean mother.”

Daniel Snyder of Washington, Jones’ ally among the high-revenue teams, was more upbeat.

“It’s really a win-win situation,” he said.

Added Oakland’s Al Davis, a longtime maverick who was one of Tagliabue’s leading supporters during this debate: “The whole idea was that no one was totally dissatisfied. We had to have labor peace. That’s why I came all the way here. I don’t make many of these trips anymore.”

The agreement comes after a week of on-again, off-again negotiations, culminating in a two-day owners meeting. Tagliabue predicted it would come down to the 11th hour.

It did and perhaps went beyond: Tagliabue said an agreement was reached in Grapevine, Texas, at 6:59 and 59 seconds CST, a second before the deadline to notify the union. League spokesman Greg Aiello originally announced the deal had taken place at 7:35 p.m. after league officials said earlier the 8 p.m. deadline didn’t specify what time zone.

The union didn’t seem to care.

“This agreement is not about one side winning or losing,” Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association said in a statement. “Ultimately, it is about what is best for the players, the owners and the fans of the National Football League. As caretakers of the game we have acted in the manner the founders intended.

“Moving forward, this new agreement gives us the opportunity to continue our unprecedented success and growth.”

The deal probably saved a lot of veteran players from being released for salary cap reasons.

The real debate was between the owners themselves on the important issue of expanded revenue sharing.

Low-income teams say high-revenue teams should contribute proportionately to the player pool because they can earn far more in nonfootball income from things such as advertising and local radio rights.

Under the new deal, the bottom 17 teams in revenue will not contribute to the pool, which will be funded with the top five teams contributing the most; the second five less; and the third five less than them.

Still, two of the lowest-revenue teams voted “no.”

“I didn’t understand it,” said Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson. “It is a very complicated issue and I didn’t believe we should be rushing to vote in 45 minutes. I’m not a dropout … or maybe I am. I didn’t understand it.”

Culpepper wants out

Daunte Culpepper wants out of Minnesota.

Culpepper’s shaky relationship with the Vikings deteriorated further when the quarterback said he wants to be released if the team fails to trade him.

“If a trade does not happen then I am asking the Vikings to terminate my contract as soon as possible,” Culpepper said in an e-mail to reporters.

Culpepper said he had asked the Vikings if he could speak to interested teams on his own behalf. He said Minnesota denied his request.

He said he appreciated that the team’s new owner, Zygi Wilf, was willing to pay him a $6 million bonus due later this month.

“However, because of the fundamental differences I have with management regarding the approach to my personal and professional life, I think it is the best business decision for both parties to go our separate ways,” Culpepper said.

He softened his message slightly by saying that if the team didn’t honor his request, “then I intend to fulfill my contractual obligations to the Minnesota Vikings.”

In a brief phone interview with The Associated Press, Culpepper said he had been angered by a recent e-mail he received from the team. He didn’t elaborate on the contents of the e-mail.

A Vikings spokesman said the team would not comment on the e-mail.

Culpepper’s status with the team has been in question ever since a boat party scandal on Lake Minnetonka in September. He was charged with several misdemeanors for lewd conduct; Culpepper has said he is innocent and will fight the allegations in court.

Further complicating Culpepper’s situation is his continued recovery from a knee injury. Culpepper missed most of last season after tearing three ligaments in his right knee during an Oct. 30 game against Carolina, calling into question whether he will be ready for the start of the 2006 season.

Even before the injury, Culpepper was having one of his worst seasons as a pro.

He threw twice as many interceptions (12) as he did touchdowns (six) during the Vikings’ 2-5 start. After he was injured, backup Brad Johnson guided the Vikings to six straight wins.

Culpepper signed a 10-year, $102 million contract in 2003, but much of that money was not guaranteed. He restructured his contract during training camp last season to give him nearly $8 million more in guaranteed money.

Around the league

Less than a week after Kansas City cut him for financial reasons, 31-year-old linebacker Shawn Barber signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Terms of the contract weren’t immediately known. Philadelphia also re-signed defensive end Juqua Thomas to a one-year contract. … Veteran offensive lineman Steve McKinney agreed to a contract extension with the Houston Texans. Terms of the deal weren’t released.