Veteran Argonauts linebacker Muamba, CFLPA patiently awaiting vote results on CBA

As a member of the CFL Players' Association executive, the tentative collective bargaining agreement reached last week between the union and CFL has Henoc Muamba's support.

But if it's not good enough to be ratified by a majority of union members, the Toronto Argonauts' linebacker is prepared to return to the bargaining table on their behalf.

"Being a team rep and [union] vice-president as well, I try to have a good feel for the room," Muamba said via telephone Monday. "The last few days I've had many great conversations with a bunch of guys.

"The hardest thing for a committee is you must be able to have a representation but you also want to have a good feel for the guys within the locker room. You want to have good communication with them so you can represent them as best as possible. If things change, well, listen, you must be able to adjust on the fly."

The CFLPA executive has recommended acceptance of the deal, which features increases to the CFL salary cap ($100,000 annually starting next year) and minimum salary (from $65,000 to $75,000 by 2027). It also includes a revenue-sharing formula for the CFLPA and gives players a chance to have the final year of their contracts guaranteed up to 50 per cent.

And while the CBA calls for a return to padded practices — one hour weekly during the regular season to a maximum of 12 — it extends medical coverage for retired players to five years from three.

The agreement also calls for the number of Canadian starters to increase from seven to eight but that would include a nationalized Canadian — an American who has spent either five years in CFL or at least three with the same team. In addition, three other nationalized Canadians could play up to 49 per cent of all snaps on