Takeaway No. 1: Season Length
The NFL regular season will increase from 16 games to 17 games, starting in 2021. This was perhaps the most contentious point in the entire argument, with owners heavily in favor of more football (and more revenue opportunities) while players did not want to add another game.
Additionally, compensation for that final game was an issue, with an original proposal only playing players $250,000 per game, regardless of their contract status. That has since been changed to pay players the full prorated portion of their contract, even if it exceeds $250k.
For reference, Russell Wilson’s current contract will pay him just under $2 million dollars per game – a far far cry from the $250,000 originally offered for what would often be one of the most stressful games of the regular season.
The players will still play the same number of football games, however, as the CBA also cut down the number of preseason games from four to three starting in 2021.
The fourth week will turn into a bye week, giving teams a chance to rest before the start of the regular season.