After months of speculation, NFL players voted by a close margin to ratify a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The NFL Players Association revealed that the agreement passed by a vote of 1,019 to 959, a difference of just 60 votes. Also, there were 500 players that did not vote on the CBA which will be in place for the next ten years.
“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,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell. “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.”
The new CBA comes with some major modifications that will impact the 2020 season and beyond. Some of the biggest changes include:
- A 17-game season: An extra week will be added to the regular season 16-game season beginning in 2021.
- A shortened preseason: Each team will play three preseason games instead of four beginning in 2021.
- Expanded playoff format: The playoff field will expand from six games per conference to seven, with only the top seed in each conference earning a bye-week.
- A new revenue split: Players are guaranteed to receive 48% of the league’s overall revenue beginning in 2021.
- New drug policy: Players are no longer suspended for positive marijuana tests.
Based on the narrow margin of votes, the reaction to the new CBA was mixed from both current and former players.
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) March 15, 2020
That was a razor thin margin for the new #CBA. I’m sure we’ll hear from players on both sides
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) March 15, 2020
Can’t believe we agreed to that lol. We can only play this game for so long and y’all didn’t want everything we could get out of it? Smfh. 2030 y’all do better
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) March 15, 2020
Man I’m so hot bruh‼️🤬
— Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) March 15, 2020
10 years from now when almost all of those players will be out of the league they will wish they had voted https://t.co/k6t2xfMMSI
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) March 15, 2020
Trash, freaking trash
— Allen Robinson II (@AllenRobinson) March 15, 2020
For those wanting FACTS why this CBA deal was DISASTER, read this memo from my lawyers. Remember, we were sent the email to vote on the new CBA proposal on 3/5. I posted the memo on 3/9. 2 hours later @NFLPA sent comparison of this CBA to last CBA to members for the first time! pic.twitter.com/k7CxDCJmE1
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 15, 2020
The democratic process has played itself out. 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. pic.twitter.com/O0Pe1dg0L2
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) March 15, 2020
BREAKING NEWS: The #cba vote is officially out. Here what the players voted and here’s why it matters: pic.twitter.com/W0YkS2lOqk
— Sam Acho (@TheSamAcho) March 15, 2020
Is the #CBA perfect? Absolutely NOT!
Did the players choose right? Absolutely! pic.twitter.com/WZM13vBtnL— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) March 15, 2020
I’ve been a part of the the tough CBA negotiations, conference calls, I’ve led the votes. So many different players in different phases of life. Hard to get everyone on 1 page. I’m sure y’all did what you could. Y’all boys go play now. What’s done is done! Blessings young 👑
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) March 15, 2020