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The NFL ’s prospective new collective bargaining agreement features a 17-game season, shorter preseason, larger rosters and limits on the number of international games.
The NFL Players Association’s executive committee and player representatives are to discuss the proposal on Friday by conference call. If the NFLPA does not approve the agreement, the current CBA, which expires in March 2021, would remain in effect and further talks would be required.
Several people familiar with the proposal say it features increases in minimum salaries; changes in practice squad makeup and eligibility; and reduced offseason and preseason requirements as pivotal parts of the deal.
Those people spoke on condition of anonymity because provisions in the 10-year agreement that would run through 2029 are not being made public.
An expansion of the playoffs to seven teams in each conference, with only the top seed in the AFC and NFC getting a wild-card bye, can be instituted by the league without any negotiations — as long as the postseason remains in a four-week format.
Super Bowl 54Show all 125 Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The Kansas City Chiefs met the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 General view of Hard Rock Stadium before Super Bowl LIV
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, right, embraces D.J. Reed Jr
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs observe a moment of silence to honor former NBA player Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs players stand before Super Bowl LIV
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers players stand before Super Bowl LIV
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers players stand before Super Bowl LIV
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers players stand before Super Bowl LIV
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 49ers players huddle on the field
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The San Francisco 49ers take the field
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The Kansas City Chiefs take the field
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The San Francisco 49ers take the field
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Singer Demi Lovato performs the national anthem
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Singer Demi Lovato performs the national anthem
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) returns the opening kick
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman runs with the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel is stopped by Kansas City Chiefs' Anthony Hitchens
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Robbie Gould of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a 38-yard field goal
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Robbie Gould of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a 38-yard field goal
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Jimmie Ward
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes scores their first touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes scores their first touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates their first touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates their first touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Sammy Watkins of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomesof the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers reacts
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs' Mike Pennel
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 15-yard touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 15-yard touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk celebrates his touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jennifer Lopez and her daughter Emme Maribel
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Fireworks explode over Hard Rock Stadium during halftime
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert in action
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo in action
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Robbie Gould kicks a field goal
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Robbie Gould kicks a field goal
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Robbie Gould kicks a field goal
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs fumbles the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers intercepts a pass from Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after intercepting a pass from Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after intercepting a pass from Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after intercepting a pass from Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on after throwing an interception
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Raheem Mostert after a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Raheem Mostert after a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert, left, celebrates his touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs huddles with his team
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is sacked
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes reacts
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 San Francisco 49ers free safety Tarvarius Moore makes an interception
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Tarvarius Moore of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after intercepting a pass by Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Tarvarius Moore of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after intercepting a pass by Patrick Mahomes
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs gestures
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles away
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce scores their second touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce scores their second touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce celebrates scoring their second touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes the ball
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs dives into the endzone for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs dives into the endzone for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs dives into the endzone for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Damien Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for a touchdown
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is dunked with Gatorade
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates after winning the Super Bowl
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates after winning the Super Bowl
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Derrick Nnadi of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Frank Clark of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Demarcus Robinson of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates after winning the Super Bowl
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, left, celebrates with head coach Andy Reid
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, rear, celebrates with Frank Clark
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes consoles San Francisco 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Strong safety for the Kansas City Chiefs Tyrann Mathieu and teammates celebrate on the podium
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 The Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defeating the the San Francisco 49ers
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes hoists the trophy
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Super Bowl 54 Super Bowl 54 Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes hoists the trophy
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One of the wild-card weekend games might wind up as a Monday night contest.
The 17-game schedule actually is a compromise offer for some owners who wanted 18 games. Adding the one regular-season match would seem to indicate each of those games would be at a neutral site.
But the league has promised the union to cap the number of international games and that there would not be a full week of such contests. More likely is a continued mix of games in England (and other European sites) and Mexico. Most team schedules will have nine home games and eight road games.
The preseason would be reduced from four games to three, not counting the Hall of Fame game that starts the exhibition schedule.
There would be no extra bye week in the regular season.
Rosters would expand from 53 to 55, with 48 players able to dress for games rather than the current 46. Practice squads would go from 10 players to 12 and eventually to 14, probably by 2022. There would be more flexibility for protecting practice squaders from becoming free agents.
Suspensions for a positive test for marijuana likely would end, except for cases of tampering with a test. But doctors appointed by the league and union would have the ability to recommend players sit if they are not under treatment or are at risk if they suit up.
A major point of contention when the current agreement was reached in 2011 following a 4 1-2 month lockout was Commissioner Roger Goodell’s role in discipline. Should these terms be accepted by the players, a neutral, jointly appointed hearing officer would make findings on off-field issues and whether the actions violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Those findings would be binding, but a player could appeal — with Goodell making the final decision.
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