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It has been the biggest question of the offseason in the NFL as the league and the NFLPA have been negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for almost a year. With the new league year approaching, the NFL Players Association voted on a final proposal if a deal is to be reached for this coming season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schedter, the NFLPA has voted to accept the proposed CBA.
Sources to ESPN: NFL players voted to approve the proposed CBA, giving the NFL 10 more years of labor peace, players an increased share of revenue, former players added benefits, and the league 17-game regular seasons along with an expanded playoff field.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
The NFLPA soon confirmed the results of the vote and how it passed with a very narrow margin.
Our statement on the CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/3pXydLLQ9c
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 15, 2020
The most significant result of a new CBA is allowing teams to know which rules they will be governed by as they prepare for the 2020 season. With the Pittsburgh Steelers currently in the worst salary cap position according to overthecap.com being able to operate in a normal capacity will greatly help in determining their maneuvers in the coming weeks. No longer being confined by the “30% rule” which governs the final year of the CBA, the Steelers will be able to restructure and negotiate contracts in their typical fashion.
As for the players, majority of those around the NFL will see an immediate pay raise for the 2020 season. All players operating on rookie and league minimum contracts will see a rise in pay for the 2020 season and every subsequent year through the life of the agreement.
The largest point of contention between both sides was the NFL’s desire to add a 17th game to the regular season. The additional game cannot be scheduled before the 2021 season and 17 will be the maximum amount of regular-season games throughout the life of this new agreement.
As NFL teams begin to do business in the coming days, there will be a growing understanding of how the new CPA will affect business. With reports of offseason dates being pushed back due to public health concerns regarding the coronavirus, exactly how the new CBA will change business may take some time.
Stay tuned to Behind The Steel Curtain for breaking news, player updates, and all things Pittsburgh Steelers.