In a narrow vote by the players, changes are coming soon to the National Football League.
The NFL players agreed late Saturday night to the new collective bargaining agreement. It passed by just 60 votes.
The new CBA was accepted by the 32 team owners last month. The deal ensures labor peace through 2030 season and avoids another lockout.
[MORE: This is how NFL players are reacting to the new labor deal]
Every vote counts:
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) March 15, 2020
NFL players have voted to approve ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by a vote tally of 1,019 to 959.
Our statement on the CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/3pXydLLQ9c
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 15, 2020
“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.”
The new CBA goes into effective for 2020 season and includes the following terms:
- Two more teams added to playoffs starting in 2020 season; 7 teams per conference
- Regular season expands to 17 games as early as the 2021 season
- Preseason games cut down from four games to three beginning in 2021
- Two more roster spots per team, from 53 to 55; larger practice squads, too
- Higher minimum salaries for players
- Starting in 2021, players will receive at least 48 percent of league revenue; that percentage can increase based on the league’s TV revenues
- Narrow testing period for players for marijuana use, plus lowered discipline for using it
You can read the full 456-page CBA here.
Prior to the vote, Falcons NFLPA player representative Josh Harris told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he thought it was a good deal but emphasized that he wanted his teammates to go with their own opinions.
“We need guys to vote, whether if it’s a yes or a no. Our voice needs to be heard. It’s an interesting time," Harris said earlier this month. "Hopefully, we can get this done. If you asked me, it is a pretty good deal. It is. Is it a perfect deal? No. But I’m hard-pressed to find such a thing as the perfect deal.”
It is unknown at this time which Atlanta players voted YES and which players voted NO.
The Associated Press and AJC contributed to this report.
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