Note: Article updated to include the NFLPA's announcement that the voting deadline has been delayed.
The NFLPA lawyers have looked over the proposed 456-page collective bargaining agreement (CBA), finalized the language, and have passed it on to the players for a vote. Should the majority vote for it, the players and the NFL will have a new CBA in place by the start of the new league year.
The NFLPA announced on Thursday that players have until March 12 to cast their online ballots. Players were informed via email.
"The NFLPA has sent out official ballots to every NFL player who was a dues-paying member in the 2019 season to cast their vote on a new collective bargaining agreement," the NFLPA wrote in an announcement. "As outlined in our constitution, ratification of a new deal is subject to approval by a majority of our members who vote. The voting will be open until Thursday, March 12th at 11:59 pm EST. Player ballots will be confidential and will be received by an independent auditor to ensure the integrity of the process. We encourage every NFL player to review the full collective bargaining agreement and exercise their democratic right to vote."
Our statement on the CBA voting process: pic.twitter.com/YdYnBQxqWy
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 5, 2020
Update: The NFLPA announced on Monday, March 9, that the deadline for players to vote has been pushed back to March 14.
An update on our CBA vote: pic.twitter.com/d8P5KoFYP6
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) March 9, 2020
Among the items within the new CBA is a move to a 17-game schedule for each NFL team, more money allocated for players, added benefits for current and retired players, an increase in the NFL's minimum salary, and more.
Approval or rejection of the proposed agreement will be determined by a simple majority vote. It has been assumed that the increase in the league's minimum salary is enticing enough for most players who are not at the top of the pay range to vote for approval.
Support for the agreement has been noticeably split with several veterans and NFLPA representatives, like San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, being among the most vocal opponents. Much of that opposition has been over concerns surrounding player safety should the NFL move to a 17-game season. There weren't, however, enough against the proposal to stop it from moving on to an NFL-wide player vote.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.