Player reps, NFL negotiators meet to hash out CBA

Players union representatives and members of the NFL’s negotiating committee will meet late Tuesday afternoon to hash out their differences in a new labor agreement the owners approved last week.

The NFL Players Association’s executive committee voted 6-5 against the contract on Feb. 21, and the 32 player reps postponed any action while seeking a meeting with the league. Those player reps also must vote on the deal before the entire NFLPA membership does so.

That is expected to happen later this week, but there still are some issues of contention between the two sides. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2021, but the owners are eager to get a new contract in place as soon as possible. That would enable them to begin looking toward new, lucrative broadcast deals, with a decade of labor peace assured.

But the players don’t appear to be in a rush to approve the new agreement that is the result of 10 months of negotiations between the sides. Indeed, several player reps last Friday night were adamant that more negotiating is needed.

The diciest topic is a 17game schedule. Players have been firm and loud in opposition for years — dating back to before the 2011 lockout that ended with an agreement to the current labor deal. Mainly, the players have been citing safety reasons for not extending the regular season.

Owners have offered, among other things, two more roster spots, which some players believe isn’t enough, and a reduction of the preseason from four games to three.

Players also would have significantly fewer requirements in the offseason and in training camp.