NFL news: New CBA, Texans re-sign Roby, others...

[Arky]

Quarantine? When you are retired and live in the boonies, "quarantined" is a lifestyle.... In the meantime:

NFL CBA approved: What players get in new deal, how expanded playoffs and schedule will work:

NFL players voted to approve a proposed new collective bargaining agreement with the league's owners, ensuring NFL labor peace through at least 2030. The vote was tight, with 1,019 "yes" votes and 959 "no" votes.

The new CBA will expand the NFL's playoff field by two teams starting with the 2020 season and allow owners the option to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 games as early as 2021.

But those are only the big-headline items. More than just a deal to increase the number of games played each season, this is a document that will establish and govern the rules under which the game is played, contracts are negotiated and rules are administered for the next 11 years, through the 2030 season.

We thought you might have some questions about what's in it. Thanks to a copy of the memo the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) sent to its members, we have some answers:

You said 11 years? I thought this was a 10-year deal.

Yeah, important point there, and it depends on how you look at it. The proposed new deal runs through 2030, which means it runs for 10 years after the current deal was set to expire. There are significant changes to certain rules and league structures that will go into effect in 2020 if the deal is approved by the players, however.

So you could call it an 11-year deal that tears up the final year of the previous CBA and runs for the next 11 years. Or you could call it a 10-year deal that begins in 2021 but alters some rules for the final year of the current deal. Either way, it will run through the 2030 season.

All right. And the 17-game season?

Owners will have a window from 2021 to 2023 to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 games, should they choose to do so (and it's expected they will).

At this point, the two sides haven't had substantive discussions about how the 17-game season actually will work -- i.e., which team gets the extra home game and whether there will be more bye weeks -- which is why many think 2022 is the soonest it could happen. But it's very likely to happen.

I've heard some talk of 8 at home, 8 on the road and 1 "international"....

more at link....

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Sources: Texans strike $36 million deal with Bradley Roby - Aaron Wilson:

The Texans have agreed to terms with their top cornerback, Bradley Roby, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Roby landed a three-year contract with a maximum value of $36 million, according to sources.

Roby's guaranteed money is in the range of $18 million to $19 million, per sources.

The defending AFC South champions needed to keep Roby in place.

This marks the biggest move of the offseason since coach Bill O'Brien was formally given the additional general manager title by chairman and chief operating officer Cal McNair. O'Brien has been operating with that authority since last year, executing a series of trades and contracts since the Texans fired general manager Brian Gaine last year.

When the Texans signed Roby to a one-year, $10 million contract a year ago, it was the equivalent of a prove-it deal.

I'm OK with this - he was arguably the Texans top CB last year....

more at link..

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Breaking down Texans tight end Darren Fells' two-year, $6.3 million deal - Aaron Wilson:

Texans veteran tight end Darren Fells' two-year, $6.3 million contract includes a $1 million signing bonus, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Fells has $2 million total guaranteed.

more at link.

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Texans agree to terms with corner Phillip Gaines

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Sources: Texans to re-sign LB Tyrell Adams to one-year deal - Aaron Wilson

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NFL free agency starts Wednesday - Aaron Wilson:

The NFL sent a memo to coaches and league executives Sunday informing them that there will be no change to the free agency schedule.

The NFL contemplated changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The free agent signing period starts Wednesday at 3 p.m. The legal tampering period begins Monday at 11 a.m.

The deadline to use the franchise or transition tag is set for 10:59 a.m. Monday.

NFL teams have been assigned a $198.2 million salary-cap limit for 2020, up by $10 million from last year.

More at link....