Owners accept proposed labor deal, send it to players

The NFL has put the labor ball in the players’ hands.

In a somewhat surprisingly strong decision, the 32 team owners voted Thursday to “accept the negotiated terms on the principles of a new collective bargaining agreement.”

Details of that agreement were not forthcoming from any of the owners or Commissioner Roger Goodell. They quickly scurried from a Manhattan hotel without nothing more than “sorry, can’t help you,” or “I can’t comment” when asked about the proposed CBA.

Now the onus is on the players, who have a conference call today involving their executive committee and player representatives. The NFL Players Association said it would not comment Thursday on the NFL’s announcement.

Such quick action by the owners indicates their eagerness to replace the 10-year labor agreement that concludes in March 2021. Several elements of a new CBA could be implemented for the upcoming season should the players vote in favor of it.

That, of course, is no given. Should the players vote against accepting this proposal or seek further negotiations, the NFL has said the current agreement would remain in place for 2020. A league statement put a deadline on acceptance by the union, saying “since the clubs and players need to have a system in place and know the rules that they will operate under by next week.”

The league’s business year begins March 18.

Among the items in that proposal, according to several people familiar with the negotiations but speaking anonymously because they are not authorized to release such information:

•A 17- game schedule, which always has been a stumbling block in talks with the NFL Players Association. More roster spots per team would be a must for the players.

A 17th game would preferably be played at neutral sites, which one of the people familiar with the talks said could include non-NFL U. S. venues as well as Europe, Mexico and Brazil.

• A reduction of the preseason, initially from four games to three.

• A higher share of revenues for the players; the current number is 47 percent. The cut the players would receive is dependent on the length of the regular season, but would remain below 50 percent regardless.

• An expansion of the playoffs, something the NFL has been seeking for years.

Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested back in 2015 that increasing the postseason field to seven teams in each conference was in the works. The owners could unilaterally add a wild- card team in the AFC and the NFC, but are willing to make such a move part of a new CBA.

The provisions for two more wild-card games, developed years ago, would have only the team with the best record in each conference receiving a bye for the first weekend of the playoffs.

There’s even a chance one of those wild- card matchups would be played on a Monday night.

Also being considered is a second bye week to go with a 17th game, although almost certainly not for the 2020 season. The expansion of the playoffs easily could occur this year, however, if a new CBA is reached.

The current labor agreement was reached in 2011. WASHINGTON LETS REED GO » Washington released Jordan Reed, cutting ties with an injury-prone tight end who was rarely able to show his full abilities.

Injuries from head to toe limited the 29-yearold Reed to 65 games over his first seven years in the NFL, all with Washington. He missed the entire 2019 season with his fifth documented concussion as a pro and seventh going back to his college career at Florida.

Releasing Reed clears $8.5 million in salary cap space to give Washington more than $63 million to spend in free agency. Washington has needs all over but is now particularly thin at tight end after moving on from Reed and Vernon Davis retiring.

A third- round pick in 2013, Reed caught 329 passes for 3,371 yards and 24 touchdowns and was a favorite option of Washington’s many quarterbacks during his tenure there.

But he’s missed time with hamstring, ankle, shoulder, chest and toe injuries and the multiple concussions.. SOURCE: VIKINGS’ GRIFFEN TO HIT MARKET » Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen will become a free agent for the first time in his 11-year career, coming off a bounce-back season for the longest-tenured player on the team.

Griffen has chosen to exercise his option to void the remaining three years on his contract, a person with knowledge of the decision confirmed to The Associated Press.

Griffen did not become a starter until 2014, his fifth season in the league. The 32-year- old has long kept himself in optimal condition, never missing more than one game to injury in any season, so he ought to draw interest in free agency. With 74½ sacks, Griffen is 15th in the NFL among active players. BROWNS’ LANDRY HIP SURGERY » Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry elected to have hip surgery after initially opting not to have the operation.

Landry was bothered by his hip all last season, but still finished with a teamleading 83 catches for 1,1174 yards and six touchdowns. He visited a specialist after the season and decided not to have the procedure before changing his mind after playing with pain in the Pro Bowl.

The Browns said Landry’s surgery was performed on Tuesday in Minnesota.

A team spokesman said Landry is expected to make a complete recovery “for the 2020 season.”