The NFL owners put forth their proposal for the new collective bargaining agreement this week well ahead of the 2021 deadline and it promises to alter the way the game is governed over the next decade.
There are many positives in the proposal: expanded gameday rosters, reduction of marijuana tests, fewer padded practices, one fewer preseason game, sharing of gambling revenue and changes to the injured reserve rules.
The sticking point will be the addition of a 17th regular-season game, which many players have already denounced via social media.
The New York Giants are a team in turnaround and the new CBA will work both ways for them, even though the CBA won’t kick in until 2021—unless agreed upon to be effective immediately.
The proposal calls for the playoffs to be expanded by one team in each conference and that could open the door for a team ascending from the depths of the standings.
“The jump from six to seven teams may not seem like much, but it’s gigantic,” writes NJ.com’s Joe Giglio. “That’s especially so in a tough NFC. The Giants, like every team, likely have some sort of predictive model (just don’t tell general manager Dave Gettleman) for upcoming win-loss record. Let’s say that number is close to 7-9 for 2020. Adding an extra team to the format means a jump of just one or two wins will be enough to be a true contender.”
The downside is that the Giants will be relying on third-year running back Saquon Barkley to shoulder the load and if he’s like any other running back in this league, he has just a short window of prime years.
Giglio reminds us that for the Giants to capitalize on Barkley’s prime, they better accelerate their rebuilding effort.
“As the years pass, adding any extra touches for a star running back will be felt down the line. The Giants can’t waste what they have in a sport that will demand more of their star back.”
This year will be the year for new head coach Joe Judge to get his team in line because the training camp and practice rules will change next season. He has just one training camp to put his stamp on his new team. After that, the players will have to be more accountable for their own training and development.
The new CBA has yet to be approved but if and when it does, there are some benefits for the Giants.