The NFLPA is re-convening this week to "conditionally vote up or down on a 17-game regular season schedule that likely would commence" in '21, as a new CBA is "on the brink of make-or-break," according to sources cited by Mortensen & Schefter of ESPN.com. All 32 team player reps, along with the NFLPA exec board, will "meet at an undisclosed location to review a 10-year labor contract for the second time within a week." Sources said that the NFLPA "gauged a group of select player agents who were invited on Thursday in Miami to discuss a contentious players union meeting that lasted more than six hours to review the proposed new CBA that has been negotiated for months with the NFL owners." A source said that the window for a new agreement to be in place "'is closing' with urgency for the owners, who are prepared to table their proposal and play out the last year of the deal." Sources said that "some of the highlights of the CBA proposal" include "bumping up the players' share of revenues immediately under a 16 game format" if there is an agreement in place before the new league year in March, as the new CBA would take effect immediately for the '20 season. Sources added that the players will "receive an annual fixed share" in the 48% range of an "anticipated larger revenue pool and also greater cash spending minimums for clubs" (ESPN.com, 2/2).
NO TIMETABLE GIVEN: USA TODAY's Mike Jones cites sources as saying that they believe a new CBA "could be reached by the time the NFL scouting combine rolls around in late February." However, with the two sides "still significantly apart on revenue sharing, a proposed 17-game season and a modified drug policy, this could drag out much longer" (USA TODAY, 2/3). In DC, Mark Maske cites a source on the players' side who is opposed to the deal as saying that the NFLPA "should not sacrifice players' health and safety for the financial gains in the potential CBA that owners and the league have tied to the players' acceptance of a 17-game season." The source said that "pushback on the players' side against a 17-game season kept a vote of the player reps from being taken during the week leading up to the Super Bowl." The source added that players and their agents "should prioritize the players getting 49 percent of revenues under the salary cap, eliminating marijuana testing entirely and taking several other financial steps to benefit a wide range of players" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3). Asked when he expects CBA negotiations to be complete, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "When we're finished." Goodell: "There are a lot of benefits to being in a rush in some ways, but I think it's better to do it right" ("Sunday Morning Futures," Fox News, 2/2).
