General view during a severe weather delay during the first...

General view during a severe weather delay during the first quarter between the New York Giants and the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium on Thursday, Aug 8, 2019. Credit: Brad Penner

INDIANAPOLIS – It is now up to NFL players to decide whether to approve the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement that would result in a 17-game regular season, two additional playoff teams and an improved financial package for current and former players.

After a final negotiating session Tuesday night that lasted nearly four hours, the NFL Players Association announced early Wednesday morning that the proposed CBA would be put to a vote of the players. Voting among players may not begin for several days, as attorneys finalize the language of the deal. Once the players have received the finalized offer, a simple majority of the dues-paying union members who vote is required for passage. 

Owners removed a cap of the $250,000 salary that players would receive for playing a 17th game, meaning all players would receive a prorated share of their yearly salary for the extra game – something that would benefit high-salaried players.

“The NFLPA Board of Player Representatives voted to send the proposed collective bargaining agreement to the full player membership for a vote,” the NFLPA said in a tweet shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

If approved, the new labor pact, which would run through the 2029 season, would replace the current one that was negotiated in 2011. It is due to expire after the 2020 season. If the players reject the deal, the league would operate this season under the terms of the current CBA.

If the deal is approved, the NFL wouldn’t switch to a 17-game regular season until the 2021 season at the earliest. The league could add one playoff team per conference – creating a six-game wild card round and giving only one team in each conference a first-round bye – as soon as the 2020 season.

NFLPA president Eric Winston said it will now be up to the players to decide whether the terms of the proposed CBA are worth approving.

"There will be white smoke when there's white smoke," Winston said. "The one thing we're not doing is rushing into anything. Every 'i' will be dotted. Every 't' will be crossed. I believe in the democratic process. I believe in our guys standing up and being heard. My job is to make sure every single guy is educated, every single person knows what's going on. I think we've accomplished that, and now it's a matter of guys making a decision."

The NFL’s 2020 league year begins on March 18, with the free-agency signing period allowing unrestricted free agents to strike deals with new teams starting then.

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