Lunchbreak: CBA Adjustments to Include Increased Practice Squad, 'Ramp-Up' Period

[Viktor]

The NFL and NFLPA came to an agreement Friday afternoon on "the foundation necessary to play amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."


Discussions about adjustments to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement have been ongoing for weeks. According to NFL.com's Nick Shook, the changes were approved by a player representative vote, by a count of 29-3.


Most veteran players across the league, including the Vikings, are scheduled to report for their respective training camps on July 28.


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the following:


"We have worked collaboratively to develop a comprehensive set of protocols designed to minimize risk for fans, players, and club and league personnel. These plans have been guided by the medical directors of the NFL and the NFLPA and have been reviewed and endorsed by independent medical and public health experts, including the CDC, and many state and local public health officials. The season will undoubtedly present new and additional challenges, but we are committed to playing a safe and complete 2020 season, culminating with the Super Bowl."


Shook wrote:


The agreed-upon deal includes an allowance for 16-man practice squads, high-risk and voluntary opt-outs of participation and the absence of a preseason for 2020, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.


For players who opt out of participating, high-risk candidates will receive a $350,000 stipend and their contract will toll, per Pelissero. Voluntary opt-outs will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will toll as well. Opt-outs are due within seven days of the deal being finalized.


Examples of the CDC's defined "increased risk" categories would include moderate-to-severe asthma, sickle cell disease or Type 2 diabetes.


Shook referenced NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who reported that training camps are "set to be comprised of 20 days of a ramp-up period and a maximum of 14 padded practices."


"So what you'll see is a couple weeks of strength and conditioning only after players get tested," Rapoport said. "We won't see football necessarily for some time, probably be a couple weeks. And then you'll see more OTA-style practices with helmets, but it'll more look like kind of passing camp. And then after a couple of weeks you'll finally get pads. But because there are no preseason games … teams are allowed the ability to really ramp up slowly."


Another adjustment as a result of the coronavirus is that the NFL will "spread the impact of any 2020 revenue shortfall" over four years, beginning in 2021. This means that the 2020 cap of $198.2 million remains unchanged; according to Shook, the salary cap next season will be at least $175 million.


Rapoport also explained that rosters must be trimmed down to 80 players by Aug. 16 and no more than 80 players are allowed in the building at one time.