NFL players vote to ratify new CBA

A simple majority of NFL players have voted yes to a new collective bargaining agreement.

The NFL and the NFLPA have officially agreed upon a new collective bargaining agreement, according to multiple reports.

NFL ownership previously voted to accept the terms of the newly proposed CBA and now players have followed suit. In order for the vote to pass, the NFLPA needed a simple majority of members to vote yes. In the end, the vote narrowly passed by a margin of just 60 votes. 1,019 players voted yes to ratify the new CBA, while 959 players voted against it.

Here is the official statement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell:

We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football.  We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.

Here is the official statement from the NFLPA:

Now that a new CBA has passed many changes will go into effect immediately such as new roster size limits, minimum salary benefits, changes to the drug policy, changes to the NFL playoff structure and more. A 17th regular-season game won’t come until 2021 at the earliest. With labor peace agreed upon for the foreseeable future, fans won’t have to worry about any lockouts in the NFL.