A college football players’ group wants to bargain with the NCAA without becoming employees

The GIST: On Monday, the College Football Players Association (CFBPA) joined the student-athlete compensation movement by proposing that players be allowed to collectively bargain with their schools, conferences, and the NCAA — without becoming official employees.

What it means: Composed of current and former NCAA football players, the CFBPA said collective bargaining rights would allow athletes to negotiate payment via revenue-sharing, a concept gaining traction with the country’s most powerful conferences.

• The right to bargain would also give athletes more say in the NCAA’s policies and allow them to negotiate more comprehensive medical care, an issue that’s top of mind for many players — especially in such a dangerous sport.

• But because amateurs do not have collective bargaining rights under federal labor law, this proposal is only possible if Congress passes a law allowing student-athletes a “special status.” Views on Capitol Hill are…mixed.

The justification: CFBPA reps insist that the group remains open to athletes eventually becoming employees — and gaining all the protections the pros enjoy — but most players are hesitant to begin that long and contentious fight with the NCAA anytime soon. Instead, this proposal would help secure payment and protections for players now.

• The proposal for a special collective bargaining status for student-athletes also offers the NCAA an olive branch of cooperation, buying the org valuable time as the athlete employment movement spins out of its control. Watch this space.