CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – NFL players voted to approve the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement the NFL Players Association announced Sunday morning.
After extending the voting period through Saturday, it was approved by 60 votes – 1,019-959 the NFLPA said.
“The result comes from a long and democratic process in accordance with our constitution,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “An independent auditor received submitted ballots through a secure electronic platform, then verified, tallied and certified results.”
The agreement means that the league will extend labor peace for the next 11 years.
“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,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released by the league office Sunday morning. “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.”
The new agreement, which will run through 2030, paves the way for the league to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games in 2021 as well as expand the playoff field this coming season.
Under terms of the new CBA, rosters will be expanded from 53 to 55, an increase in practice squad payers per team, the preseason reduced from the current four games, more time off during training camp, no suspensions for positive marijuana tests, expanded benefits for former players and an increase in revenue share.
“Our members have spoken and the new CBA has been ratified,” NFLPA president and Browns center JC Tretter said in a statement. “We pick up a greater share of revenues, make significant gains to minimum salaries ad increase our post-0career benefits. For players past, this deal reaches back in an unprecedented way to increase pensions, benefits and make resources available to them.
“We understand that not all deals are perfect, and we don’t take the gains we wanted, but didn’t get, lightly. We now must unite and move forward as a union. The interest and passion on the issues that our members have voiced in the past several weeks needs to continue. Our job is never done and we all must work together as one team to build for a better future.”
With the labor deal complete, owners can turn their attention to securing new media deals with television and streaming partners as well as securing gambling revenue.
The new league year is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 4 p.m. eastern with the legal tampering window opening at noon Monday, however with concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, there is a chance the league will delay the start of the new league year.
