The NFL owners voted to approved a proposed collective bargaining agreement to send to the players to vote on. There are a number of changes to the proposed agreement.
What is there to know?
Expanded postseason
Under the new agreement, taking effect in 2020, each conference would get a third wild-card team in the postseason. That would mean the No. 2 seed in each conference would no longer have a first-round bye.
17-game season
It might not be immediately, but it would expand the regular season to 17 games, reducing the preseason by one. It could be a few years before it is implemented.
For those players whose contracts were negotiated before the 17-game schedule, they will get an extra game check worth 1/17 of their base salary, with a cap of $250,000. The cap on the extra game check would affect those players making more than $4.25 million a season in salary.
Increased revenue share for players
Currently at 47% in the current CBA, the players’ share of league revenue would increase to 48% with a 16-game schedule and 48.5% with a 17-game schedule. The result would be anywhere between a $2.5 billion to $5 billion increase in revenue for players.
Salary increases
The minimum salary will go up by $100,000 in 2020, $50,000 in 2021 and by $45,000 ever year thereafter,
The practice squad salary goes up and the number of players is increased by two.
The salary for restricted free agent tenders increases.
A veteran salary cap exclusion up to $1.25 million per year for up to two veteran players on the roster.
The fifth-year option on first-round picks becomes guaranteed and is determined by performance rather than by draft slot.
No marijuana penalties
The testing window for THC is reduced and there will be no more suspension for a positive test for THC. Fewer players will be tested.
Commissioner no longer over discipline
Commissioner Roger Goodell will no longer have authority over player discipline issues. A neutral arbitrator will handle those hearings. Goodell will continue to have authority over “integrity of the game” issues.
Training camp and working condition changes
The time before pads can go on is increased to five days from three previously. Full-speed, padded practices are limited to 2.5 hours. There will be a time limit a team can have players at the facility.
There will only be 16 days in pads, no more than three straight days in pads in three of the five weeks of camp and no more than two consecutive days in two of the five.
There will be two off-days in the first week of camp and one every seven days after that.
In the case of the expanded season and reduced preseason, there will be a limit of four joint practices.
Teams must upgrade visitor locker rooms.
An extra offensive lineman can be active on game days.
Teams must maintain established standards for rehab facilities and training rooms.
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