NFLPA approves new Collective Bargaining Agreement

NEW YORK - The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) voted to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposed to them by the NFL owners on Saturday.

After a league-wide player vote, the CBA was approved following 1,019 votes for approval versus 959 against.

The new deal, which will run through to 2030, sees a number of significant changes on the previous ten-year pact that will largely benefit the roughly 60 percent of players who are on, or around, the league minimum wage.

Notable changes are: an additional two teams entering the playoffs (starting in 2020), only one team in each conference with a first-round playoff bye, the addition of one regular-season game (which can come into effect between 2021 and 2023), only three preseason games (as opposed to four), a higher league minimum wage, extended practice and game day squads and additional financial support for players.

The new CBA was approved a full year before the current version was set to expire avoiding any potential lockout this time next year.

The NFLPA also rejected the league's proposal to delay the start of the league year meaning that the free-agent signing period will start as planned on Wednesday at 4 pm.