Our statement on the CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/3pXydLLQ9c
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 15, 2020
The NFL Players Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement on Saturday night, with the final tally clocking in at 1,019 votes for approval against 959 votes to decline — a margin of just 60 votes, or about 2% of union membership. Because this CBA proposal was already confirmed by NFL ownership, it will go into effect immediately and is expected to run through the next decade. And it’s introducing many new changes and challenges for every team, including the New Orleans Saints.
First and foremost: the new CBA removes the one-year 30% rule, which would have severely hamstrung the Saints’ usual contract structure strategies. Now that the 30% rule is abolished, the Saints can finalize contract extensions with pending free agents like Drew Brees — who may be up for accepting another below-market deal. They will also begin to negotiate in earnest with the rest of their 27 players set to test the open market.
Minimum salaries will be given a pay raise, and the NFL salary cap is expected to rise dramatically in future offseasons. Rosters will increase from 53 players to 55, and require just five inactive players on game days. Practice squads will also grow to 12 members per team.
Beyond those immediate concerns: the NFL regular season will be extended to 17 games, with just three preseason exhibition games, no sooner than the 2021 season. The playoffs will also be expanded with seven teams representing each conference, and just the top-seeded team earning a first-round bye week.
So how will the Saints respond to this? We might finally see some movement from them in regards to re-signing their own players, especially with the start of the new league year around the corner. But Saints coach Sean Payton anticipates that date to be moved back in response to the coronavirus spreading nationally, though the NFL has not yet made a decision. So check back soon for updates.
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