NFLPA Approves CBA

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the NFLPA voted to approve the proposed CBA, which means there will be 10 years of labor peace. 

Here’s a statement from the NFLPA:

Our statement on the CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/3pXydLLQ9c

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 15, 2020

Here’s a statement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell:

“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football.  We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.”

New NFLPA president J.C. Tretter posted the following statement on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/xLuqQ1ap9D

— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) March 15, 2020

The final player vote came out to 1019-959.

The new deal runs through 2030 and will go into effect immediately.

This means NFL teams will have just one franchise and/or transition tag to use on players once free agency officially opens. Teams will receive an extra $700 million for the 2020 season, which includes $100,000 increase in minimum salaries. 

Notable changes for the NFL include two playoff teams being added for the 2020 season and a 17-game season in 2021.

A number of teams were in tough cap shape and had this not passed, they may have had to sit out free agency for the most part. Teams will now have the post-June 1 designation at their disposal. 

The player’s revenue share will increase from 47 percent in 2020 to at least 48 percent in 2021. It can go as high as 48.4 percent due to a media kicker as part of the 17-game season.

NFL teams will have two additional active roster spots for a total of 55 players. Padded practices in training camp will be reduced from 28 to 16 and be limited to 2.5 hours.

The deal passed by just 60 votes, which goes to show how split the union was on the deal. There had been some influential players that had come out strongly against the deal with the belief that they were not getting enough in return for 17 games. 

Beyond that, they felt they could negotiate a better deal later on. 

However, it appears as though there was enough support from the players to get the deal passed by a 1.5 percent margin.