On Sunday it was reported that the players had voted to approve the new NFL CBA. The biggest news from the new Collective Bargaining Agreement being approved is the addition of two playoff teams, which starts in the 2020 season, and the regular season moving to 17 games, which could start as early as the 2021 season. The owners have wanted a 17th game added to the schedule for some time now and the additional playoff teams will add revenue as well, so the owners benefit from this new NFL CBA. But the players benefit as well. Below is what the players get out of this new CBA.
NFL CBA and What the Players Get
Money
With the current CBA the players receive 47% of all league revenue. But starting in 2021, the players will get at least 48% of all league revenue. And the players’ share of the revenue could increase thanks to a “media kicker” that takes effect once the owners actually decide to add the 17th game to the regular season schedule. Once that additional game is added the players’ share of the revenue goes to 48.5% if the NFL’s TV revenues increases by 60% and can increase as high as 48.8% if the league’s TV revenues increase by 120% or more. Important to note here is that the players’ share cannot be reduced by any money the owners may spend on stadium construction and/or renovation. The players also get a share of revenues from any legal gambling that takes place in stadiums, regardless if that wagering is on NFL games or other sports.
But the players that immediately and directly benefit from this new CBA are the “rank and file” players. Approximately 60% of the players in the league have minimum-salary contracts and this new CBA gives those players a substantial increase in pay. Effective immediately, minimum salaries in the NFL will increase by approximately 20%. The amount salaries will increase depends on a player’s length of time in the league, but this increase for minimum players goes up incrementally throughout this new CBA.
Number of Payments
Not only will the majority of players receive more money under the new CBA, but the players will now receive paychecks over 34 weeks (36 once the owners officially approve adding the 17th game). This new CBA means players can collect paychecks for eight months instead of only four. This could help many players with financial planning/budgeting.
Expanded Rosters
More jobs are also being created by this new CBA. Currently there are 46 players on game-day active rosters, but that number increases to 48 with this new deal. One of the two extra players must be an offensive lineman which could help some teams improve in an area which has been lacking overall, due to limited practice time.
But active roster players aren’t the only ones who benefit from this new CBA. In 2020 practice squads will increase from 10 players to 12. That number will go to 14 starting in 2022. In addition to practice squad roster spots increasing, they are also receiving a salary bump. In the current CBA the minimum salary for a practice squad player is $8,000 per week, but that increases to $11,500 by 2022. In addition, those players will also be eligible for 401(k) and tuition assistance benefits.
Veteran Salary Benefit
This allows teams to re-sign up to two of its own players per year and exclude up to $1.25 million of each re-signed player’s base salary from each season’s salary cap. This obviously will help veterans sign better deals and possibly remain in the league a little longer, since their salaries won’t fully count against the salary cap. The only caveat to this is a player must have been in the league for at least four years to qualify.
Drug Policy and Marijuana
This new CBA eliminates suspensions for positive marijuana tests. It also raises the threshold for a positive test from 35 to 150 nanograms of THC and limits the time the NFL can test its players to the first two weeks of training camp.
Suspensions and Appeals
Under the previous/current CBA, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and his office were essentially judge, jury and executioner when it came to suspensions and fines. The players have long hated that the people responsible for doling out discipline are the same people who hear their appeals. According to reports, this will no longer happen under the new CBA.
Last Word
The players certainly didn’t get everything they wanted and there are more than a few players who don’t agree with accepting this new CBA. But the players, particularly the “rank and file,” did get a substantial amount of benefits from this new NFL CBA, including what was outlined above. But the biggest benefit, to the players, owners and fans, is there will be no strike or lockout. There will be NFL football through the 2030 season.
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