Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL owners approve new collective bargaining agreement; players to vote Friday

Things are moving quickly in terms of the NFL and the NFL Players Association agreeing on a new collective bargaining agreement.

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The NFL owners met on Thursday and approved the details on the new CBA, issuing this statement:

“Following more than 10 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.”

According to NFL.com, the NFLPA and its representatives will consider the new CBA in a conference call on Friday.

The NFL didn’t release the terms that were included in the new CBA, but it’s widely believed that the addition of a seventh playoff team per conference will be included.

And it may also include a plan to expand to 17 regular season games in the future.