NFL players sent ballots for vote on proposed CBA

The NFL Players Association sent ballots to members Thursday for voting on the proposed collective bargaining agreement, giving the union a week to either ensure another 11 years of labor peace or send the matter back to the drawing board.

The NFLPA announced that votes would be accepted through March 12. The more than 2,000 members will have a window of about 71⁄2 days to examine the 439-page document and cast a yes or no vote. Ratification requires a simple majority. So if only 1,000 ballots were returned, the union would need 501 yes votes to approve.

Every player who was a dues-paying member last season received a ballot, the NFLPA said. Votes will be confidential and received by an independent auditor.

■ The Redskins will allow Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams to seek a trade, ESPN reported. Williams, 31, held out all of last season, citing issues with the medical staff and former team president Bruce Allen.

Auto racing: NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will drive in the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4. Stewart, 48, an Indiana native, and three-time Cup champ, will headline the race held on the 14-turn, 2.44-mile road course. He has eight road-course Cup wins, trailing only Jeff Gordon, and notched his 49th and final career victory in 2016 at Sonoma Raceway.

Golf: Matt Every shot an opening-round 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Rory McIlroy at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Every’s only two PGA Tour victories came at Bay Hill in 2014 and 2015. McIlroy won the tournament in 2018.

Soccer: The Premier League banned pregame handshakes between players and officials “until further notice based on medical advice” as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of the coronavirus . ... Former Brazil player Ronaldinho and his brother were detained by Paraguayan police for allegedly entering the country with a falsified passport . ... Athletic Bilbao made the final of the Copa del Rey for the fourth time in 12 years. Athletic fell to host Granada 2-1 in the second leg of a semifinal but advanced on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score. Real Sociedad advanced Wednesday. The final is April 18 in Seville.