Labor peace brings on 17th game
Close vote adds to playoffs, amends marijuana policies
The NFL and NFL Players Association brokered labor peace for the next decade by a razor-thin margin, ushering in major changes to the league.
That includes a 17th regular-season game and a playoff field expanded to 14 teams, with only the top team in each conference receiving a first-round bye.
NFL players narrowly voted yes to a hotly contested new collective bargaining agreement, which passed by a final margin of 1,019 to 959, according to an independent auditor. Roughly 500 dues-paying members opted to not vote at all.
“This result comes after a long and democratic process in accordance with our constitution,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “An independent auditor received submitted ballots through a secure electronic
platform, then verified, tallied and certified the results.”
The 11-year agreement, a 456-page document, was enacted Sunday morning after balloting closed at midnight Saturday. It runs through the 2030 season.
Because of the majority vote, the league will add a 17th regular-season game by the 2021 season with just three preseason games, expand the playoff field from a dozen teams to 14 for the 2020 season, increase minimum player salaries by $100,000 for 2020, increase performance-based pay by 12 percent on average, increase medical benefits, and reduce punishment and testing for marijuana.
Players who test positive for marijuana can’t be suspended solely for positive tests, and the testing window has been shortened from four months to two weeks at the start of training camp. Plus, the threshold of a positive test has gone up from a 35 nanogram limit to 150 under the new agreement.
Additionally, retired players’ benefits and pensions have increased.
“The democratic process has played itself out,” Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins wrote. “We must be committed to unifying our current and former members. While I don’t agree with the decision because of its negative impacts on some current and former players, I do respect our process and will push forward accordingly.”
Players’ share of NFL revenue, currently at 47 percent for 2020, goes up to 48 percent in 2021 and can rise to 48.5 percent any year during which 17 games are played, per the terms of the CBA.
Padded practices at training camp are down to 16 from 28 and limited to 2½ hours, down from three hours.
Rosters were expanded to 55 players from 53 players, with two more players active for games, up to 48 players. Practice squads can go up to as many as 14 players making $10,500 per week, up by $2,500.
“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.”
This wasn’t popular with several high-profile players, especially after the NFLPA executive committee voted 6-5 against passing a proposal ratified by NFL owners in February. Owners agreed to meet with players at the NFL scouting combine and removed the cap of $250,000 game checks for the 17th game. Now, players will make the full prorated value of their contracts even above the $250,000. The board of player representatives voted 17-14 to send the deal to the full membership, which then passed it by 60 votes Saturday night.
If the players’ union hadn’t voted in favor of this proposal, it was feared a work stoppage through a lockout or strike was going to happen eventually. An unfair labor practices allegation citing illegal practices has been filed by Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Russell Okung, an outspoken critic of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, with the National Labor Relations Board.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was blunt about the CBA: “Hella disappointed. The CBA sucks.”
The salary cap is up $10 million from last year, rising to $198.2 million. Overall player costs per team, including benefits and the performance-based pay pool, are $242.9 million.
Prior to the passing vote, several players voiced loud opposition to the CBA. They included Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who wrote on social media: “Hard no on that proposed CBA.”
“Check your email and VOTE NO,” Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills wrote on social media, also posting a video. “And tell your friends.”
Texans linebacker Brennan Scarlett is the team’s elected union player representative.
After the vote passed, Texans players weighed in.
“That vote was CLOSE,” Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia wrote. “Wow.”
Texans safety Justin Reid wrote: “Smh can’t believe it.”
Texans linebacker Peter Kalambayi wrote: “Like 600 players didn’t even vote.”
“Smh,” Texans defensive lineman D.J. Reader wrote.
Besides Okung, Richard Sherman, twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey and Aaron Rodgers were all against the CBA.
“We understand and know that players have been split on this deal, including members of our (executive committee),” new NFLPA president J.C. Tretter said in a statement. “Going forward, it is our duty to lead, however we may feel as individuals, to bring our men together and to continue to represent the interests of our entire membership.”
Newly elected NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter, the replacement for outgoing president and former Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston, released the following statement on the vote:
“Our members have spoken and the CBA has been ratified. We pick up a greater share of revenues, make significant gains to minimum salaries and increase our post-career benefits. For players past, this deal reaches back in an unprecedented way to increase pensions, benefits and make resources available to them.
“We understand that not all deals are perfect, and we don’t take the gains we wanted, but couldn’t get, lightly. We now must unite and move forward as a union. The interest and passion on the issues that our members have voiced in the past several weeks needs to continue. Our job is never done and we all must work together as one team to build for a better future.”