WJW Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith just made a statement where he gave an ultimatum that if a further extension of the current CBA is going to be proposed by the NFL then it must be accompanied by 10 years of audited financial from the league (teams). The mediator can step up here and try to broker a compromise (fewer years or limited financial), but this is a very bad sign and the speculation by many that this was De Smith's plan all along (NFLPA decertification) may become a reality. IMO, this would be the worst possible situation for all concerned (players, teams and us the fans) because when you turn this complete agreement over to the lawyers everyone loses control over the process - and this legal process could go on for a long time. 10 minutes until the NFLPA's 5pm ET deadline to decertify... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinity Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It's official on ESPN they will not represent the players anymore it seems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJW Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Holy crap!!! ESPN just reported that the NFLPA has filed their decertification papers. Worst case scenario realized. Now the lawyers take over. Buckle up for a long and bumpy ride. I never thought it would come to this even though De Smith's only credentials are as a litigator. Next step -- lockout. Look for it in the next few days unless the courts stop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskey Pimp Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I blame De Smith solely for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Well, now it remains to be seen whether the owners use their own nuclear option and lock the players out for the coming season. They aren't going to be beholden to their employees to expose their books. Rumors have it that while the owners may not have the TV revenue, they do have a $500M to $700M warchest amassed. Given that player have proven that they can't manage their finances, I could see the owners playing hardball here. If the owners did offer to meet halfway, the players are being awfully stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm not sure this is the worst case scenario. The owners can't lock them out now without facing a possible injunction and anti-trust lawsuits whereby if they lose (and they probably would), the penalty is upwards of THREE TIMES the annual salary for the players. I see this as a positive cuz we'll have football in 2011 under the default CBA rules. The appeal process could easily be drawn out 2 to 3 years. Which side do you think could withstand prolonged court battles better? The owners still have tremendous leverage and could very well be pissed off if they did indeed extend the halfway offer to see this happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm not sure this is the worst case scenario. The owners can't lock them out now without facing a possible injunction and anti-trust lawsuits whereby if they lose (and they probably would), the penalty is upwards of THREE TIMES the annual salary for the players. I see this as a positive cuz we'll have football in 2011 under the default CBA rules. Don't have a clue how you possibly see this as a positive. Anyone soley players side is full of SHAM WOW!. League made concessions, players didn't, screw em, go work at McD's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricrelish Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Wow. This sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 True and yes, the owners would destroy the players in a 2-3 year court battle, but the players have the judge on their side and he'll likely agree to an injunction, so they continue to play while it gets worked out. All the lawyers I've heard speak on the subject think that the players would win both the injunction and an anti-trust if it they got locked out. It's my understanding that Doty's authority to preside expired once the CBA expired. I think you're being awfully optimistic in regard to the power the players have to make anything they want go through the courts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJW Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Appears that the NFL presented a proposal that met the NFLPA "half way" and the NFLPA never countered. At that time De Smith told the players they would decertify and all the paperwork was ready to file. One final meeting happened between both sides to try to find a way to extend the current CBA again. Nothing came of that despite league making more concessions. De Smith then left that meeting and went to the mic to make his "show us your books" ultimatum. I guess De Smith has convinced the players that their best chance is in the courts. Not sure many agree with him on that. I don't. This could all be a ploy to get back to the negotiation table with more leverage (for the players), but at this point who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJW Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Wow. Jeff Pash (NFL Exec VP of labor) is at the mic ripping the union's negotiations. Sounds like the league was giving them A LOT. If what he's saying is true then indeed it was the union's plan all along to decertify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Dobler Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It's my understanding that Doty's authority to preside expired once the CBA expired. I think you're being awfully optimistic in regard to the power the players have to make anything they want go through the courts. I am certainly not a legal expert, but it is my understanding that now you would be looking at a process that would most likely include appeals brought on by the owners, and that would bring in more than just Doty's rulings, which by most accounts would benefit the owners more than the player's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WashingtonD Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 If they screw up the next season of LLD their will be repercussions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddahj Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Wow. This sucks. + Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Wow. Jeff Pash (NFL Exec VP of labor) is at the mic ripping the union's negotiations. Sounds like the league was giving them A LOT. If what he's saying is true then indeed it was the union's plan all along to decertify. Bargaining in good faith my ass. The players' true colors show. Now that it has reached this point, I almost hope there is no NFL this coming season. It will be interesting to see these bitches who can piss away $1M a year go without pay for a year. C'mon down and see how the rest of the country is doing, ass####s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WashingtonD Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It will be interesting to see these bitches who can piss away $1M a year go without pay for a year. C'mon down and see how the rest of the country is doing, ass####s. That made me laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byron2112 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Wow. Jeff Pash (NFL Exec VP of labor) is at the mic ripping the union's negotiations. Sounds like the league was giving them A LOT. Of course Jim Quinn (NFLPA councel) calls Pash a liar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skilly Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So if the union is no longer, does that mean that D. Smith is out of a job? This is still so complicated: if the union is disbanded, then each player is now just an individual employee of the NFL, right? And they are free to sue the NFL, but what are they suing for? More money? Screw the players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So it came down to the owners not wanting to open their books up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skilly Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So it came down to the owners not wanting to open their books up? Sounds like it. Which the owners aren't legally required to do, as I understand it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The owners still have tremendous leverage and could very well be pissed off if they did indeed extend the halfway offer to see this happen. If the proposal was truthful then I'm now with Cunning Runt in that I want the players to be destroyed in litigation. And I now root for absolute failure for Manning, Brady, Brees, and Mankins. Any word on who the other 5 players in the anti trust lawsuit will be? It's my understanding that Doty's authority to preside expired once the CBA expired. I think you're being awfully optimistic in regard to the power the players have to make anything they want go through the courts. I've heard several times that if the NFLPA desertified then Doty would still get the case. Bargaining in good faith my ass. The players' true colors show. Now that it has reached this point, I almost hope there is no NFL this coming season. It will be interesting to see these bitches who can piss away $1M a year go without pay for a year. C'mon down and see how the rest of the country is doing, ass####s. Agree. 100%. So if the union is no longer, does that mean that D. Smith is out of a job? No, the NFLPA still exists, its just a trade organization instead of a union. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Sounds like it. Which the owners aren't legally required to do, as I understand it. They probably are not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So it came down to the owners not wanting to open their books up? That, plus the fact that they seem to have made concessions while the players didnt. (except for the rookie cap which was a foregone conclusion). If the NFL was making offers to meet halfway, then the players are at fault for not negotiating in good faith. Jeezus . . . this looks like a Republican Democrat standoff . . . . cant we just compromise and get along?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So it came down to the owners not wanting to open their books up? No. The owners were negotiating and offered a very favorable proposal to the players. De. Smith and the NFLPA feeling like that already have Doty in there backpocket put them in a position where they didn't want to negotiate a fair/equal CBA, they wanted to get as much as they can. NFLPA Greed is the reason, not the owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 No. The owners were negotiating and offered a very favorable proposal to the players. De. Smith and the NFLPA feeling like that already have Doty in there backpocket put them in a position where they didn't want to negotiate a fair/equal CBA, they wanted to get as much as they can. NFLPA Greed is the reason, not the owners. It's a favorable offer if the owners aren't lying about the numbers, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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