NFLPA to vote on the owners’ CBA proposal

NFL player representatives passed an owner-approved proposed collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning, sending the proposal to the full players union for a vote that could create labour peace for 10 years.

Because the 32-member NFLPA representative council voted to move the proposed CBA for ratification, only a simple majority of the union must approve to set the deal into motion.

Players now are set to vote for a CBA that calls for a 17-game regular season, starting in 2021, along with a reduction of the four-game pre-season. All teams would have more roster spots, and players would receive a higher percentage of revenue in addition to upgraded pensions for former players.

The vote in favour of sending the proposal to the players association was 17-14 with one abstention. The executive committee had voted down a similar proposal, 6-5, on Friday.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who signed a fouryear, US$140 million extension in April 2019, said Wednesday morning on Twitter he would vote no to the latest proposal.

“The @NBA & @MLB are doing it right. Players come first. ALL @ NFL players deserve the same. WE should not rush the next 10 YEARS for Today’s satisfaction. I VOTE NO.”

It is not yet known when the full vote of the players union will take place. Broncos player rep Brandon McManus estimated an email vote could take at least one week.

A four-hour meeting between the NFL and NFLPA took place Tuesday night in Indianapolis, the site of the NFL scouting combine. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy declined comment out of “respect for the process.”

With a vote pending, the NFL and NFLPA are planning meetings with attorneys this week to decide how the off-season might be impacted. It’s possible free agency could be delayed.

Reuters