NFL Players Approve Latest Collective Bargaining Agreement

There will be no work stoppage or lockout anytime soon or within the next 10 years due to the latest collective bargaining agreement that the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) approved with the NFL owners, according to Sports Illustrated.

In an announcement by The NFLPA, the union members voted by 60 votes to approve the collective bargaining agreement proposed by team owners. A simple majority was all that was needed to pass the resolution between the players and the NFL owners as 51.5% of the players voted for it.

“NFL players have voted to approve ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by a vote tally of 1,019 to 959,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “This result comes after a long and democratic process in accordance with our constitution. An independent auditor received submitted ballots through a secure electronic platform, then verified, tallied and certified the results.”

“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “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.”

Details of the deal are listed below:

The NFL gets the option to extend the regular season to 17 games, starting in 2021. The playoffs will expand to 14 teams immediately.

The salary cap will be set at 47% of all revenue in 2020 (it would’ve landed at around 46.6% this year under the old CBA), and move to 48% starting in 2021, with a media kicker likely to push the total to 48.5% after the broadcast deals are done (and maybe, eventually, 48.8%).

Gameday rosters expanded to 48, with a provision for eight offensive linemen to be active.

Growth on minimum salaries had lagged behind the growth of the cap. This deal restores the minimums to pace-of-cap, will lead to an immediate $100,000 raise for those players, and a bump of $495,000 over the next three years.

Larger practice squads, with provisions for veteran players (previously, practice squads were limited to guys with less than three credited seasons).

A $1.5 million salary-cap exemption for veterans who’ve been with their teams for longer than four years.

Improved benefits and pensions, particularly for the pre-2011 players. And plans for a new network of health-care facilities to help ex-players will be put in motion.

Fifth-year options for first-round picks become fully guaranteed, starting with the 2018 draft class (those 2022 options are to be exercised in 2021).