NFL players approve new collective bargaining agreement by 60 votes; new league year will proceed as planned

NFL players have narrowly approved a new collective bargaining agreement that will ensure labor peace through the 2030 season and soon will expand the NFL’s regular season to 17 games and add two playoff teams.

The outcome was decided by only 60 votes, according to a statement issued Sunday morning by the NFL Players Association.

“NFL players have voted to approve ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by a vote tally of 1,019 to 959,” the statement read. “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.”

There will be two more teams in the playoffs this year, making it a 14-team tournament. Only the top seed in each conference will get a bye. Under the 12-team playoff system, the two divisional winners with the best record in each conference earned a bye week.

Players were split about adding an extra regular-season game, with many established veterans, including 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, arguing against a 17-game season. Under terms of the approved labor deal, the owners can implement a 17-game season as early as the 2021 season. The 2020 season will remain at 16 games.

The league can add the 17th game after new television contracts are negotiated, but it won’t happen until 2021 at the earliest. Once the league moves to a 17-game season, the preseason will be reduced from four games to three.

“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. “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.”

“We understand and know that players have been split on this deal, including members of our [executive committee],” the union said in a statement. “Going forward, it is our duty to lead, however we may feel as individuals, to bring our men together and to continue to represent the interests of our entire membership.”

Players will earn up to a 48.5% share of designated revenues, and players who are paid the league minimum will see an immediate 12% increase in salary on average. The NFL has said an additional $100 million could go to players this season.

“Our members have spoken, and the CBA has been ratified,” Browns center J.C. Tretter, the recently elected NFLPA president, said in a statement after the deal was approved. “We pick up a greater share of revenues, make significant gains to minimum salaries and increase our post-career benefits. We understand that not all deals are perfect, and we don’t take the gains we wanted, but couldn’t get, lightly . . . Our job is never done, and we must all work together as one team to build for a better future.”

The league will increase game-day rosters to 48 players and increase the overall roster from 53 to 55. There will be a decrease in padded practices from the current 28 to 16.

Retired players will see an increase in benefits and pensions. Current players who test positive for THC no longer will be suspended, and the testing window will be reduced to the two weeks before the start of training camp.

The salary cap for the 2020 season will be $198.2 million, up from $188.2 million in 2019.

Officials from the NFLPA and NFL discussed the impending opening of the new league year, which is set to begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, when teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents. A legal tampering period begins Monday, and deals can be struck before the official start of the league year.

Because of the growing coronavirus pandemic, the league and players mulled whether to delay the start of free agency but decided to move forward.

The NFL Draft is set to take place in Las Vegas on April 23-25, but the CDC’s recommendation of canceling events with 50 or more people for the next eight weeks likely means that’s off.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”