NFL, Players agree to new CBA through 2030
Rejoice, football fans. You’re guaranteed labour peace for at least another decade. Last Sunday, the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) agreed to a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement that will last through the 2030 NFL season.
It’s a bit surprising that the NFLPA agreed to the NFL’s proposal considering the PA’s executive committee advised against the proposal, and the vote was so close overall. However, all that was needed to ratify the CBA was a simple majority. Although there are 2,500 players under the NFLPA and only 79.1% of the league voted, the final vote was 1,019-959, a difference of 60 votes. (2500-1978 = 522, meaning that many players didn’t vote at all and could have swung the agreement).
So what will be different?
An Extra Game
Beginning in 2021, the NFL will now have the option to have its teams play 17 regular-season games, one more than the 16 they have traditionally played since 1978. This was a significant concession by the players and something they were very hesitant to accept due to the increased risk of injury in conjunction with the short lifespan of the average NFL career. The bump to 17 games has been sought by the owners dating back to the last CBA negotiations in 2011 and it’s pretty straightforward as to why; more games = more revenue from television deals, ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, etc. This also likely means that many current NFL records are in danger of being broken.
New Playoff Format
Beginning in 2020, the NFL’s playoff field will also be expanded from six to seven teams in each conference with the addition of a third wild-card team. Under this format, only each conference’s highest ranked team will receive a first-round bye, and the other matchups will be 2-vs-7, 3-vs-6, and 4-vs-5. Adding the extra playoff game will also result in more revenue. If it was in place this season, the Steelers and Rams would have snuck in, which likely wouldn’t change anything. But imagine the potential chaos it could bring if a team at 9-8 who barely squeaked in gets hot at the right time?
Increase in Revenue Share
The x-factor in almost every CBA negotiation in professional sports. Starting in 2021, the players will receive 48% of the revenue the NFL brings, a 1% increase. This could move to as high as 48.8% if the NFL were to decide to expand the NFL schedule to 17 games, dependent on how much growth the league sees in terms of TV revenue. While 1-1.8% might not seem like a whole lot, from 2021-2030, this total sum would amount to over $5 billion.
Drug Policies & Suspensions
In light of the drug’s legalization in several American states, and the justified criticism they have seen thrown their way in the past from players like retired All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the league has also moved to relax their policies on marijuana use. Any player who now tests positive will not be suspended, testing will now be limited to the first two weeks of training camp compared to four months, and the threshold for a positive test jumps from 35 to 150 nanograms.
Who won the Negotiations?
The league is going to come away the big winner as they ultimately got the players to bend to what they wanted, and negotiations in their upcoming television deals will spike as they’ve now got 18 more games, two of which are in the postseason, which need to be broadcast. Star players like Russell Wilson and JJ Watt denounced the agreement, claiming it was a sad day for the NFLPA. However, it’s still a pretty solid deal for the players.
Lesser-known depth guys will get far more benefits, as NFL roster sizes were expanded from 53 to 55 players, active rosters are now 48 from 46 players and practice squads can include up to 14 players. Overall this means an additional 128 players will be earning an NFL salary. Minimum base salaries, the rate which 60% of NFL players are on, are also poised to increase by over 20% and be over $1 million by 2029.
Additionally, taking away Goodell’s free reign over the players’ appeal process is a serious bonus not being mentioned enough, as there will now be a “neutral decision-maker” for most discipline cases. CBA Article 46.2(a) which allowed the Commissioner to “serve as hearing officer in any appeal under section 1(a) of this Article at his discretion)”, and Goodell believed “at his discretion” allowed him to sit on any hearing involving conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in the game of professional football, which can envelope a broad scope. This is another key concession and one that came to light after numerous appeal procedures, including the Deflatesaga which highlighted how Goodell could operate unchecked as Judge, Jury and Executioner.
Finally with an increase in football and television-related revenue comes an increase in the salary cap, which allows for some of its star players, like one Dak “I’m worth $40 million” Prescott, to take home the sky-high paydays they so desperately desire, yet probably don’t deserve.
All in all, it’s a win for everyone. The owners increase their profits, the players have a bit more freedom without losing a season of income, and the fans avoid a lockout until at least 2030. Sure 17 games and seven playoff teams might take some time to adjust to, but we already knew future seasons were going to be weird. After all, Tom Brady is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.