NFL owners will meet in New York City on Thursday and among the topics will be a new new collective bargaining agreement, which is inching closer to becoming a reality, essentially avoiding any potential lockout.
Among the expected changes in the new CBA, which could be agreed upon as early as next week, is an expanded playoff format that features seven teams from each conference getting in with only the No. 1 seed receiving a first-week bye.
NFL playoff structure is about to be changed. Under the current CBA proposal, seven teams from each conference will make the playoffs, with only bye per conference, sources tell ESPN. It would go into effect this upcoming season. More coming on https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2020
If agreed upon, the expanded playoffs would begin immediately. It would also be the first change to the playoff format since 2002 when the Houston Texans joined the league and the NFL was split into eight four-team divisions. However, the six playoffs teams in each conference has been around since 1990.
As part of these proposed changes, players on the team that wins the No. 1 seed would also be paid for that first weekend despite enjoying a bye.
Additionally, the NFL and NFLPA are inching closer to expanding the regular season to 17 games and trimming the preseason to three games.
More details: Under the current CBA proposal that NFL owners are pushing for, the playoff field would be expanded to seven teams, while the regular season would be increased to 17 games per team, and the preseason shortened to three games per team, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2020
Unlike the new playoff format, expanding the regular season to 17 games wouldn’t be implemented until the 2021 season, allowing the league time to adjust to the upcoming changes.
What do you think about these proposed changes, Giants fans? Do you like the playoff expansion? Do you think that 17 regular season games is one too many?
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