After a long and very public battle over the merits of a collective bargaining agreement proposal, the NFL Players Association announced on Saturday that a ratification vote for the new CBA had passed by a slim majority, 1019 to 959.
Our statement on the CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/3pXydLLQ9c
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 15, 2020
The biggest change in the new CBA is the implementation of a 17-game season, starting as soon as the 2021 season. Other changes include a bigger post-season — 14 teams, up from the previous 12 — and a slightly larger cut of the revenue for players: while they previously received 47% of revenue, that will go up to 48.5% once the 17-game seasons come to pass, and could rise to 48.8% if broadcast revenue grows by more than 120%, according to USA Today.
The previous CBA was set to expire after the upcoming 2020 season, but owners pushed for a new agreement earlier to avoid a potential lockout and to aid their positions in negotiating new broadcast deals for the league. The last time the CBA was up for renewal, in 2011, the league underwent a lockout for four months before a deal was truck.
As evidenced by the slim majority of yes votes (51.5%), not every player had been in favor of the proposal. The main sticking point, according to NFLPA board member and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was the 17th game:
The fact that (the 17th game) even got in there when, the guys that I talked to around the league, every meeting that was had before these negotiations got amped up, nobody wanted 17 games. A lot of us are wondering how the hell that even got into the conversation because nobody wanted it.
However, the deal includes short-term bonuses for players, including a larger minimum rookie salary, and a rise in veteran salaries as well. That might have aided in passing the 50% threshold for ratification.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Read the full story at USA Today
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.