Question: Should the salary cap be eliminated or altered to mirror MLB (tax) or NBA (soft + tax)?
Colin Cowherd was arguing against the cap especially in a sport with 50+ players and various yearly minimum salaries. The league also has a spending floor - a club must spend actual cash that meets this floor - however, it is spread over four CBA years (2013-2016) and must meet at least 89% average over the four year period. The penalty is nothing much - the club must basically give the shortfall to the players, much less severe than collusion or exceeding the salary cap (I believe the cash under the cap rule still applies too). This creates another accounting method that clubs also need to not only account for back-loaded contracts, but also ensure they spend X dollars each league year to meet this rule. Probably not a big ordeal overall but nonetheless a talking point
I was always for the hard salary cap in the NFL but have seen some persons raise valid points. I've longed wanted to see the top tier players remain with their original club, if desired, despite salary cap implications. However, I also do not want to see a club or two dominate the free agent market (i.e. Red Sox and Yankees). But there's a big difference in provisions allowing a club to retain its drafted players beyond the initial contract despite salary cap levels versus signing dozens of free agents.
Why not allow a club to retain its drafted and groomed players in a similar fashion to the NBA, and then tax clubs that exceed certain salary thresholds, and pool that money to be distributed to those that stay under the cap?
Would it destroy a portion of the league's ability to compete with larger markets? Or is the large market claim a mere myth?
The NFL is so massive that each club earns X dollars from a revenue sharing pool before the first kickoff of a season (or is projected to receive X dollars). A hard cap is not necessary for an equal/fair revenue sharing scheme (exhibit: NBA, MLS, NHL).
With the present and projected health of the NFL, would a soft cap, or even a no cap system, benefit the league or cause a haves/have nots society?