NFL, NFLPA Aim To Reach CBA Agreement By Start Of Regular Season

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, talks between the NFL and NFLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement are expected to intensify in July. 

Sources tell Graziano the goal is to secure a new CBA before the start of the 2019 regular season. The two sides will meet for three consecutive sessions from July 17-19 according to a report from Josina Anderson. 

The current CBA is set to expire following the 2020 season. The NFL and NFLPA have had monthly negotiation meetings since April.

While sources say it’s too early to say if a deal will get done, the tenor around negotiations is much different than the last CBA talks in 2011 when the owners locked out the players. 

Graziano says the owners are motivated to get a deal done to not distract from the “NFL 100” marketing campaign and TV deal negotiations. The owners also have a March 2020 deadline to agree to a new CBA before specific contract and salary cap rules kick in, including the lack of June 1 release designations and the ability of teams to use both the franchise and transition tags to keep players off the free-agent market.

Some issues expected to come up are an 18-game regular season or expanded, 14-team playoffs, a reduced preseason, changes to the NFL’s marijuana policy and limited commissioner Roger Goodell‘s authority in player discipline.