This morning, the NFLPA approved a new 10-year CBA, which means labor peace will exist in the NFL through 2030. Considering all of the bad news that happened last week with sports on hiatus, this news is most welcome. In labor negotiations, there are winners and losers – so who won? According to what reports say, both sides won, but the players seemed to have won the most.
What the Owners Get
The owners asked the players for a 17th game and they got it. In exchange for a percent and a half revenue increase for the players from 47 percent to at least 48 percent, the owners will get a 17th week during the regular season. The new schedule could start soon as 2021. The playoffs will also expand by one team from 12 to 14, and only the conference top seed will receive a first-round bye.
This concession isn’t out of benevolence, mind you; money talks. But if the owners are willing to give a little to get a little, then this will do. The last time the owners and the NFLPA and NFL underwent CBA negotiations in 2011, it resulted in a lockout. But each side remembered their history, and NFL owners and the NFLPA wanted to get the CBA situation done and over with quickly.
What the Players Get
To keep it short, players gon’ get paid! But here’s the long of it…
Though the vote was close (1019 yays to 959 nays), players will receive a bigger share of the revenue. Just about everyone gets a pay raise, but the ones who make league minimum will receive the most significant pay bump, about 20 percent. Next season, the minimum salary will be $675,000. By 2030, the league minimum will be just over $1 million. However, those contracts are still not guaranteed.
Rosters will also be expanded: active game-day rosters will increase from 46 to 48, but one of those players must be a lineman. Practice rosters will also expand by two and practice squad salaries will also increase from $8,000 to $11,500 by 2022. Practice players will also be eligible for enrollment in the league’s 401(k) program and tuition assistance. That means players in Canada and in other leagues such as the XFL might be able to make their NFL dream come true.
With expanded playoffs, the players get a bigger payday: players on teams of division winners will receive a $42,500 bonus while players on wildcard teams receive $37,500. As teams go further into the playoffs, paydays get bigger: players on every team that reach the conference championship will receive $65,000. The biggest bonus comes at the Super Bowl: members of the losing team get $75,000 and members of the winning team receive a $150,000 bonus. Every player has the opportunity to make a quarter of a million dollars for four weeks’ work.
What Else do the Players Get?
A more relaxed drug policy: players won’t be subject to suspensions for positive marijuana tests and the testing period will be limited to the first two weeks of training camp. The THC amount will also change from 35 to 150 nanograms and rather than players getting suspended, players will go to treatment. Does this mean that the NFL will allow players to treat ailments with CBD rather than pain killers? That was not made clear. But if the focus is on treatment, then the NFL might allow players to seek a different alternative.
Do All the Players Approve?
Several players took to social media to sound off on the CBA agreement. Free-agent QB Tom Brady was very supportive of the CBA vote.
Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson, however, was, well… less than enthusiastic.
Regardless of how everyone feels, an extra game means an extra paycheck and that should make the owners and the players very happy. The biggest winners might be the fans: they get an extra week of football and an expanded playoff.
And who doesn’t like more NFL?
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