Good article on the CBA and how Smith likely screwed the players out of billions.

[GBP4EVER]

Inside how the NFL got its 17th game

Last year's CBA should have been a defining moment for DeMaurice Smith and the labor force of America's most popular sport. Instead, some players -- and some owners -- have come to see Smith as an asset to management.

www.espn.com

 

[FlaPack]

And to be fair and balanced the players Union has never been 100% aligned either on what action to take. The last CBA negotiations made that very clear

 

[GBP4EVER]

And to be fair and balanced the players Union has never been 100% aligned either on what action to take. The last CBA negotiations made that very clear

Yeah and I said before the players were idiots that they re-elected Smith how many times. He's a snake oils salesman. He talks big but can not deliver. After the 2011 CBA they should have got rid of him.

 

[FlaPack]

Yeah and I said before the players were idiots that they re-elected Smith how many times. He's a snake oils salesman. He talks big but can not deliver. After the 2011 CBA they should have got rid of him.

and what would have another guy got out of the league? Probably nothing. The owners know they have the hammer and so does the rank and file. The vote clearly showed that.

 

[GBP4EVER]

and what would have another guy got out of the league? Probably nothing. The owners know they have the hammer and so does the rank and file. The vote clearly showed that.

Though interesting that 500 members did not vote on a CBA that was decided by 60 votes.

 

[FlaPack]

Though interesting that 500 members did not vote on a CBA that was decided by 60 votes.

again, the union is not even clear on the direction. Thats just not a D Smith issue but also a player rep issue.

 

[rpiotr01]

Probably a little unfair to cast him in that light. The NFL effectively split the union, and along lines that should be familiar to most people. If there was a national referendum, a straight up and down vote, no strings attached, that offered every wage earner in America a 15% raise plus more benefits in exchange for limiting the potential income of the top 1%, how do you think the vote would go?

 

[GBP4EVER]

Probably a little unfair to cast him in that light. The NFL effectively split the union, and along lines that should be familiar to most people. If there was a national referendum, a straight up and down vote, no strings attached, that offered every wage earner in America a 15% raise plus more benefits in exchange for limiting the potential income of the top 1%, how do you think the vote would go?

Oh no doubt the NFL got it past by offering to raise the salaries of the guys on rookie deals who make up the majority of players in the NFL.

 

[FlaPack]

Oh no doubt the NFL got it past by offering to raise the salaries of the guys on rookie deals who make up the majority of players in the NFL.

Yep and the other thing was about 65% to 75% of the rank and file were not prepared for a lockout financially. And when you look at “millions” left on the table how much of an impact does that make on the cap in the big scheme of things

 

[GBP4EVER]

Yep and the other thing was about 65% to 75% of the rank and file were not prepared for a lockout financially. And when you look at “millions” left on the table how much of an impact does that make on the cap in the big scheme of things

Though I wonder how many players complaining because they were making millions so not like any extra cash means anything to them it was just the old union vs business and that they don't want to look like a weak union and give anything to ownership.