There continue to be signs of optimism coming from at least one camp in the NFL’s ongoing collective bargaining negotiations.
According to Michael Silver of NFL Media, “significant progress” has been made in CBA negotiations between the league and NFLPA. While issues remain, there is at least some belief that a new CBA with a 17-game regular season could be in place by the start of the new league year on March 18.
NFL owners have been summoned to New York for a meeting later this week regarding the status of labor negotiations with the NFLPA. Significant progress has been made toward a new CBA, but the two sides remain far apart on some outstanding issues…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 19, 2020
If all goes well, a new deal–predicated on a 17-game regular season that would launch sometime between 2021 and 2023–could be ratified before March 18… and go into effect in time for the new league year.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 19, 2020
That 17-game schedule is likely one of the remaining sticking points. Most of the players who have gone on record about it do not like the idea, and the league may have to make some key concessions to make a reality. Still, the sustained optimism suggests that something will get done, though it’s not clear what other key changes will be made in a final agreement.
