Return Of S&B Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Interesting read on the labor situation from Profootballtalk.com titled 10 things you need to know aout the labor situation. Its a bit long but worth reading over to get better understanding of what's going on now and what may happen this year. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/...on/#more-103120 Item number 9 is the most disturbing in my opinion... 9. De Smith’s dilemma, and possible agenda. Less than two years ago, DeMaurice Smith became the executive director of the NFL Players Association. Many league insiders believe that, unlike his predecessor, Gene Upshaw, Smith doesn’t plan to remain in the job for more than 20 years. The perception is that Smith has bigger ambitions — political ambitions. Folks with political ambitions realize that those ambitions can be better realized by publicity. And a lockout imposed by the owners would thrust Smith into the national spotlight, especially if it were to linger into September. As a result, there are more than a few folks on the ownership side of the equation who genuinely believe that Smith will refuse to do a deal until he has had a chance to maximize his own personal “Q” rating. The more practical reality, apart from whatever Smith’s ambitions may be, is that he can’t do a deal in the short term without appearing soft to his constituents. Even if no regular-season games are missed, the thinking is that Smith must provoke a fight that lingers past the expiration of the current contract in order to create the impression that the deal he finally proposes to the players is a good one. Of course, Smith wouldn’t be in this position if he hadn’t spent the last year or so sounding the lockout alarm, which in turn created the impression that the league’s best offer won’t be made before the current labor deal expires — and which means that the union will have to engage in legal, political, and/or P.R. battles in order to get it. All of which will increase Smith’s profile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return Of S&B Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) The ten points discussed... 1. A lockout likely would begin long before September. 2. The union has the ability to try to block a lockout. 3. The owners have an alternative to a lockout. 4. In a lockout, free agency would be tabled. 5. The draft would proceed, but with no player trades. 6. Say farewell to the offseason, training camp, and the preseason. 7. Pressure points for the owners. 8. Supplemental revenue sharing. 9. De Smith’s dilemma, and possible agenda. 10. The absence of gravitas. Edited January 12, 2011 by Return Of S&B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amasnic Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 dot for later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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