NFL could expand to 17-game season under new collective bargaining agreement

The NFL’s prospective new collective bargaining agreement features a 17-game season, shorter preseason, larger rosters and limits on the number of international games.

The NFL Players Association’s executive committee and player representatives are to discuss the proposal on Friday by conference call. If the NFLPA does not approve the agreement, the current CBA, which expires in March 2021, would remain in effect and further talks would be required.

Several people familiar with the proposal say it features increases in minimum salaries; changes in practice squad makeup and eligibility; and reduced offseason and preseason requirements as pivotal parts of the deal.

Those people spoke on condition of anonymity because provisions in the 10-year agreement that would run through 2029 are not being made public.

An expansion of the playoffs to seven teams in each conference, with only the top seed in the AFC and NFC getting a wild-card bye, can be instituted by the league without any negotiations — as long as the postseason remains in a four-week format.

One of the wild-card weekend games might wind up as a Monday night contest.

The 17-game schedule actually is a compromise offer for some owners who wanted 18 games. Adding the one regular-season match would seem to indicate each of those games would be at a neutral site.

But the league has promised the union to cap the number of international games and that there would not be a full week of such contests. More likely is a continued mix of games in England (and other European sites) and Mexico. Most team schedules will have nine home games and eight road games.

The preseason would be reduced from four games to three, not counting the Hall of Fame game that starts the exhibition schedule.

There would be no extra bye week in the regular season.

Rosters would expand from 53 to 55, with 48 players able to dress for games rather than the current 46. Practice squads would go from 10 players to 12 and eventually to 14, probably by 2022. There would be more flexibility for protecting practice squaders from becoming free agents.

Suspensions for a positive test for marijuana likely would end, except for cases of tampering with a test. But doctors appointed by the league and union would have the ability to recommend players sit if they are not under treatment or are at risk if they suit up.

A major point of contention when the current agreement was reached in 2011 following a 4 1-2 month lockout was Commissioner Roger Goodell’s role in discipline. Should these terms be accepted by the players, a neutral, jointly appointed hearing officer would make findings on off-field issues and whether the actions violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Those findings would be binding, but a player could appeal — with Goodell making the final decision.

AP