NFL owners approve the new CBA framework, it now goes over to the player’s union reps

The NFL owners and the player’s union have been working towards getting a new Collective Bargaining Agreement done before there’s a chance of a strike/lockout. One big hurdle was overcome today when the owners voted to accept the framework of the CBA deal that they’ve been negotiating with the union. Here is their statement:

​​​​​​Following more than ten months of intensive and thorough negotiations, the NFL Players and clubs have jointly developed a comprehensive set of new and revised terms that will transform the future of the game, provide for players – past, present, and future – both on and off the field, and ensure that the NFL’s second century is even better and more exciting for the fans.

The membership voted today to accept the negotiated terms on the principal elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Players Association would also need to vote to approve the same terms for there to be a new agreement.

Since the clubs and players need to have a system in place and know the rules that they will operate under by next week, the membership also approved moving forward under the final year of the 2011 CBA if the players decide not to approve the negotiated terms. Out of respect for the process and our partners at the NFLPA, we will have no further comment at this time.

The player’s union representatives are scheduled to have a phone call on Friday to discuss the proposal. They could vote on whether to pass the proposal over to the full union membership for a final vote. Two-thirds of the representatives from each of the 32 teams would have to vote in favor for the proposal to move to the full body where only a simple majority is needed to pass.

Adam Schefter reports that it wasn’t a unanimous vote by the owners.

They needed three-fourths of the owners to approve it and got that amount, although it wasn’t unanimous.

As noted in the statement from the owners above, if the union doesn’t approve the deal by next week, the league will operate under the “final year” rule.

Since the clubs and players need to have a system in place and know the rules that they will operate under by next week, the membership also approved moving forward under the final year of the 2011 CBA if the players decide not to approve the negotiated terms.

R.J. Ochoa laid out why that is significant earlier today.

NFL teams can use both the franchise and transition tags this offseason because it is regarded as the “Final League Year” under the current CBA.

With free agents Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones needing to be signed, using two tags could help the Cowboys out. They may not get that chance if the new CBA is approved soon.

Tomorrow will be a big day when the union reps get on a conference call to discuss it and possibly vote.