Lockouts, Strikes, And Keanu Reeves Movies Benefit Know One – The NFL and Players Sign-Off on New CBA

The beauty of the NFL is that every time a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, it impacts teams in new ways which dramatically change the business operations of the game.

The new CBA which barely passed 1,019 – 959 will run through the year 2030. Highlights of the agreement include: 2 additional teams rolling into the playoffs, increase revenue share for players, 11 years of no civil unrest, a new 17 game schedule, 1 less preseason game, roster size increases, and a long overdue revamping of the NFL drug policies.

If you consider the current state of the world which includes the Coronavirus, economic turmoil, CTE, and the dramatic shift in how fans view the NFL – the NFL Players Association did the right thing by passing this deal today.

“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,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “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.”

No Civil Unrest for 11 Years

As a fan of the NFL, the most important part of this agreement is the length of the agreement which runs for 11 years. Basically, that means we won’t have any of those annoying lockouts, player strikes and their is officially know reason for Keanu Reeves to make a sequel to “The Replacements.” In-case you forgot the plot – a bunch of scab football players cross an imaginary picket line during a pro-football player strike and try to bring glory back to their team. Touchdown Shane Falco.

Honestly their is nothing worse then a league shutdown for a fan – just ask an NHL fan who won the Stanley Cup in 2005? The Answer is know one because the entire 2004-2005 season never happened.

Do We Really Need a 17th Regular Season Game?

As much as I like the current 16 game schedule, I do understand why the NFL is pushing for a 17th game – money. The NFL historically has been the “king of the hill” when it comes to broadcast rights, now it finds itself in uncharted waters which has nothing to do with past broadcast performance.

Commissioner, Roger Goodell is in an unprecedented awkward negotiation spot as the Coronavirus Pandemic certainly will impact the NFL’s upcoming broadcast rights negotiations.

Locking in the players into a 11 year contract, increasing the regular season and adding more teams and games to the playoffs gives Goodell a significant amount of additional chips to place on the negotiation table.

From a fans perspective, I’m certainly happy to have an extra regular season game. The NFL has also agreed to increase roasters from 53 to 55. Simply put – more football is better than less football.

More Teams Roll Into The Playoffs

The NFL is moving from 12 playoff teams to 14 teams as part of the new CBA. With 7 teams making the playoffs in each conference, only the top seed in each conference will earn a week off.

While only providing 1 bye per conference may seem like a minor rule adjustment, it does provide motivation for top teams to strive for the top seed and should make later season games even more relevant. The bottom-line is more teams in the playoffs is better for the fans, players, teams, the league, broadcasters, streamers, employees, Youtubers, and Papa Johns.

Some Drugs Are No Longer Bad

Players will no longer be suspended for positive marijuana tests. That’s right, weed, cannabis, aka 420 will no longer threaten a players career.

This was a huge win for the players who have been fighting for this rule change since the first Bush was in the White House. Many NFL players have stated in the past that they would prefer treating themselves with marijuana instead of painkillers. Clearly the social changes in our society and the new State laws made it easier for the NFL to finally get out of the business of marijuana testing.

Moderate Increase In Revenue Split

The NFL and NFPLA agreed to increase their revenue share for the players to 48%, with a potential increase to 48.8% if the broadcast right go up significantly. This is an increase from the current CBA which grants players a 47% revenue split.

“We pick up a greater share of revenues, make significant gains to minimum salaries and increase our post-career benefits,” Cleveland Browns center J.C. Tretter, the new union president, said in a statement he released Sunday. “For players past, this deal reaches back in an unprecedented way to increase pensions, benefits and make resources available to them.”

Huge Improvement for Retired Players

New veteran benefits for past veterans of the NFL focuses on significant increases in healthcare coverage, resources, benefits, and player pensions.

Look, we’ve all seen and heard the stories of retired players suffering from the long-term effects of playing in the NFL. It was nice to see the current generation actual go back to the future for former players.

“The new CBA includes major improvements that we at NFL Alumni sought for many months from owners and the union,” reads a statement on the NFL Alumni web site. “The document includes higher pensions—some by as much as 60 percent– for all alumni; a reduction in pension requirements from four to three vested seasons for all alumni; and a $50,000 Health Reimbursement Account for all vested players who previously had not been eligible due to their retirement date”