NFL players approve labor deal, including 17-game season

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By BARRY WILNER

By a close vote, with some 500 union members not participating, NFL players approved a new labor agreement with the league. It features a 17-game regular season, higher salaries, increased roster sizes and larger pensions for current and former players.

The deal, which runs through the 2030 season, was accepted by the 32 team owners last month. The NFL Players Association’s membership spent the last week voting on the 439-page document after its executive board narrowly rejected it by a 6-5 vote, and the player representatives voted 17-14 in favor, with one abstention.

Clearly, there was some strong player opposition to this collective bargaining agreement, though. Many stars, including Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt and Todd Gurley, spoke out against it. The total vote, among the nearly 2,500 union members who participated, was 1,019-959. Ratification required a simple majority — results were announced Sunday — and there could be lasting resentment among union members, given how close the vote was.

“Can’t believe we agreed to that lol,” Colts tight end Eric Ebron tweeted. “We can only play this game for so long and y’all didn’t want everything we could get out of it? ... 2030 y’all do better.”



FILE - In a Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 file photo, Eric Winston, president of the NFL Players Association, speaks at the annual state of the NFLPA press conference, in Miami Beach, Fla. NFL players have approved a new labor agreement with the league that features a 17-game regular season, higher salaries, increased roster sizes and larger pensions for current and former players. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/da3d70c846ffea560bc08a706b69757d

[exboyfil]

1. I don't want another game or two more playoff games

The old system seemed pretty good.

[Rebl2]

2. Same here

Why are they doing this? I’m sure I know.

[Calista241]

6. The main problem with the playoffs is that the best teams don't play in round 1.

This makes sense to fans, but to the nfl as a business and to a marketer, it’s whacked.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Too many games.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. Preseason is a joke. The final exhibition game

is manned mostly by players who will end up on the practice squads or street, yet fans are charged regular season prices for it. Same number of games, just a different split between exhibition and regular season.

The playoff expand by 1 team each conference. Only the team with the best record will now get a 1st round bye.

NFLPA got more jobs for its member and better pay and benefits. That is what unions are supposed to do.

[pstokely]

5. do they start the season Labor Day weekend like the used to?

or do they just the SB deeper in the February?