NFLPA Email sent to players advising to prepare for work stoppage of at least 1 year

[without a drought]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

But the crust is the best part! 

 

...wait.....I may be in the wrong place....

The inner crust or the outer crust?

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, without a drought said:

The inner crust or the outer crust?

It’s complicated, apparently. 

[without a drought]

3 minutes ago, Augie said:

It’s complicated, apparently. 

I cut the inner crust off my PBJ and it was really messy to eat.

[chaccof]

A one year work stoppage in the NFL (and I don't believe it will come to that) will have the same effect on me that the multiple MLB strikes and the NHL strike had on me - the NFL will then be dead to me.  Couldn't tell you the last time I watched an NHL or MLB game.  I stopped watching the NBA when the Braves left Buffalo.  I'm basically down to following the NFL, college football and basketball and golf...

[fansince88]

2 hours ago, Cripple Creek said:

Because that's what has always happened.  Smith, who I don't particularly like, is looking out for his constituents (and his own future with the NFLPA).

@Gugny (aka Crusty) says that the crust is the best part of the bread.

NO!NO!NO!!! It is the Pizza!

[MJS]

1 hour ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

i do not think that most of the players fight to hard on the rookie salary slots- the slots only hurt a handful of players each year and most guys probably resent a rookie who would be guaranteed 80 million without any production especially in a salary cap league. i would think they would fight hard for a bigger piece of pie overall and to limit Goddells power. 

It's not the players. It's the NFLPA. Big difference. And the elite few dominate every aspect of life, not the majority. Sports is no different.

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, MJS said:

Umm... they want a bigger piece of the pie. It's all about money. Obviously. I'm assuming they also want to do away with the rookie wage scale, franchise tag, fifth year option on rookie deals, and anything else that limits a player's potential earnings. They probably also want to take away the commissioner's monopoly on player discipline.

 

NFL players actually get a smaller percentage of revenue than players in many pro sports leagues.

 

I personally don't care one bit about all that stuff, as long as they line up and play on Sundays. I have no dog in the fight.

 

The players were all for the rookie wage scale the last CBA.  They won't change that.

[Orlando Tim]

5 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

The players were all for the rookie wage scale the last CBA.  They won't change that.

i am not questioning your accuracy but how do you know who was arguing which way on that? was it public knowledge at the time? 

[BuffaloBill]

5 hours ago, Canadian Bills Fan said:

Just got the alert on my phone

 

 

https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1778690/nflpa-exec-advising-players-to-plan-for-work-stoppage-of-at-least-1-year

 

 

Hope it doesn't come to this

 

 

 

Meh, normal negotiating tactic.  Too much money involved for a work stoppage.

[Augie]

8 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

i am not questioning your accuracy but how do you know who was arguing which way on that? was it public knowledge at the time? 

 

It is good for the guys who actually get to vote. Too much money into rookies was bad for owners and vets.  It took away from the amount of the pie the voting vets could receive, and who knew if the rookie could even play?  

[Augie]

11 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

Meh, normal negotiating tactic.  Too much money involved for a work stoppage.

 

BUT.....if push comes to shove, the billionaires (with the multiple decade point of view) will always win over the millionaires (with the 3.5 year average career). 

 

Let us pray it does not come to that. 

[Mr. WEO]

21 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

i am not questioning your accuracy but how do you know who was arguing which way on that? was it public knowledge at the time? 

 

It was part of the last CBA.  Veterans didn’t like first rounders sucking up that much of the cap. They agreed to it as a group.

[Boca BIlls]

I call Keanu Reeves for our replacement QB.

[Just Joshin']

It is the opening shot in the negotations.  Two critical factors:

1.  NFL careers are too short to miss a year.  A large percentage who are not stars will never recover.

2.  Too much money on the table for both sides.  A deal is in the best interest of both sides.

[Orlando Tim]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

It is good for the guys who actually get to vote. Too much money into rookies was bad for owners and vets.  It took away from the amount of the pie the voting vets could receive, and who knew if the rookie could even play?  

I am so happy that I said something like that without having the knowledge of what happened last time-I am so smrt.?

[Boatdrinks]

Yep, pretty much par for the course. Many good points raised in this thread but the bottom line is still the same : too much money to be made ( or lost) for a work stoppage in a sport with notoriously short career spans. The main issues on the players side are a bigger slice of the overall revenue, player “ safety” i.e minimal practice time and perhaps an adjustment to the preseason length, marijuana testing and Goodell ‘s power / control over discipline. As we’ve seen before, a work stoppage or lockout may happen, but it will end before any real games are played. The players will get a compromise and miss training camps which they mostly like anyway. Even a shortened season would be stunning. Revenues are too huge for either party to pass up. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

15 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

 

 

I'm sure it's just a case of the union wanting to get the word out to the owners, the players are ready to sit out for an entire year so watch out, we mean business.  We're not caving!!

 

The problem for the players though is it's not just sitting out and losing a years salary.  I'd estimate every year maybe at least  200 new players take the place of vets (say an average of 5 draft picks + 1 FA X 32 teams makes the team) so for those 200, not only are they sitting out a year, but some will never again see a check signed by Roger.  You'll have another entire rookie class coming in.  Take a guy like Lonzo if it were this coming year, would he want to lose his last potential pay check.  It's hard to strike in a career business that lasts an average of three years!

 

As for the owners, other than the desire to win the Super Bowl, they're probably just looking at all the money they will save in salaries.  Where the issue really comes in is all the people working in tickets sales, assistant to the assistant equipment mangers admin, will they then lose their jobs.  They could strike until Tom Brady's son is ready to enter the NFL and still be filthy rich.

I find this notion revolting 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

16 hours ago, Canadian Bills Fan said:

Just got the alert on my phone

 

 

https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1778690/nflpa-exec-advising-players-to-plan-for-work-stoppage-of-at-least-1-year

 

 

Hope it doesn't come to this

 

 

See that? If I was the nfl I’d send a letter to every football player on the planet to advise they start preparing for a shot to play in the NFL in 2020. Might be a higher than normal level of opportunity for those wanting to play. 

[Chandler#81]

The Sky is Falling! It’s 1983 all over again! Back to back playoff seasons. Fergy, Cribbs, Butler, F. Lewis, the Bermuda Triangle, Ground Chuck! Shoulda beat Cincinnati to play in the AFC CHAMPIONSHIP. Then what? Strike! New League, Cribbs leaves! Knox quits! 2-14’s ensue.

 

I’m heading straight to the Grand Island bridge! I’m not going through this again!

 

DOOMED!

[YodaMan79]

If it gets to a point where games are missed, Mark Cuban will be viewed as a profit.  I was younger, but I'm not sure baseball ever fully recovered organically from the stoppage in 94.  They did their best to inject life into the sport while looking the other way with PEDs and doctored balls, but nothing that's been sustainable long term.  I don't think the NBA is a great product anymore, either.  Was it 98-99 that was the shortened season?  The way the league is structured and the star player control, it has rendered 2/3s of the teams in purgatory year after year.  I think the international growth has bailed that league out.  The NFL will always have the eye of the betting public, but we have so many more options with our time and money.  I find myself getting a slightly more apathetic to the league as me and young kids are getting older.  Between the horrendous officiating, rule changes that favor scoring/fantasy football and overall general dislike of people like the commissioner, the sport dies with me a little each passing year.    

[Gugny]

I'll paraphrase the analogy I heard on Golic/Wingo this morning:  I can look at the forecast and see that it says there's no chance of rain, but it doesn't hurt to throw an umbrella in the car, just in case.

 

The fact that they're already talking so far in advance is a great sign.  I'd be shocked if any games are missed.

[row_33]

17 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Just a shot across the bow during negotiations.

 

The players should get ready to totally turtle once again, cave quickly gentlemen....

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

See that? If I was the nfl I’d send a letter to every football player on the planet to advise they start preparing for a shot to play in the NFL in 2020. Might be a higher than normal level of opportunity for those wanting to play. 

 

This is why McMahon is forming the XFL again.   The NFL is shadow backer of that league as a source of ready scabs.

[row_33]

with the talent level lowness the Pats had out there to win the SB, they could run in scabs and it wouldn't be much of a downgrade for 13 games each week

 

 

[bigK14094]

Smith is giving good advice...he doesn't know how it will play out, but, his members should be prepared.   Competent communication from a union head imho.  My views personally run on the management side of this argument, as the product has been diluted somewhat by the CBA....as teams are not as ready as they used to be with the practice restrictions.  If there is a stike, I will not attend games that year, or the year after.  Same thing I did after the strike in the Kelly era.  (I bought a St Bernard with the ticket money I saved)  And, the first few games "back" after the strike were a horror...with the teams clearly not ready to play....but, the show must go on so the players and TV can be paid/  management also.  The fan is cheated however, not only on lost games, but on shoddy product that comes after the strike.  Now, if they take a month to get ready after settling, maybe decent play could be expected.  Anyhow, whatever happens, my plans are in place.

[plenzmd1]

15 hours ago, dneveu said:

I mean - what are the things they would want?  It feels like they barely practice as it is currently, so i'm not sure how much they can scale that back.

 

More retirement benefits?

Better insurance for life after football? 

Better salary minimums?

 

The cap is structured around the revenue splits - they have a salary floor (barely) so teams can't tank salaries for a year.  

 

The only thing i can think is the franchise tag - but the owners like the tag.  Getting rid of that you have to give something back like UFA status after 4 years for example.  2nd/3rd rounders would then be RFAs for a year or something, or you would expand 5th year options to those players as well.  

i dont think Franchise tags or discipline will become a stumbling block to deal..justy does not affect that many people..and only the dudes making big money anyway of the tag stuff. Rank and file will trade tag for like you said..faster window to FA , no more 5th-year option, etc.

 

and for those who keep saying the players will want a part of gambling..not quite sure what you mean. Books sponsorships etc will go into revenue, as does TV etc. Just part of overall revenue.

 

There will be no other incremental revenue for gambling that I can see...someone educate me here? I mean these leagues can say they want a 1% integrity fee or whatever, but no a snowballs chance in the hell the books are giving them one cent.

 

[row_33]

30 minutes ago, bigK14094 said:

Smith is giving good advice...he doesn't know how it will play out, but, his members should be prepared.   Competent communication from a union head imho.  My views personally run on the management side of this argument, as the product has been diluted somewhat by the CBA....as teams are not as ready as they used to be with the practice restrictions.  If there is a stike, I will not attend games that year, or the year after.  Same thing I did after the strike in the Kelly era.  (I bought a St Bernard with the ticket money I saved)  And, the first few games "back" after the strike were a horror...with the teams clearly not ready to play....but, the show must go on so the players and TV can be paid/  management also.  The fan is cheated however, not only on lost games, but on shoddy product that comes after the strike.  Now, if they take a month to get ready after settling, maybe decent play could be expected.  Anyhow, whatever happens, my plans are in place.

 

the NFLPA is on such thin ice, the least power of any pro sports union, (MLB is the strongest easily)

 

it's the only sport that is paycheck to paycheck with literally anyone sent packing any given week

 

 

[DeMaurice Smith]

It's important that our members prepare themselves for any and all outcomes of our negotiations with the NFL for a new CBA.

[row_33]

13 hours ago, Just Joshin' said:

It is the opening shot in the negotations.  Two critical factors:

1.  NFL careers are too short to miss a year.  A large percentage who are not stars will never recover.

2.  Too much money on the table for both sides.  A deal is in the best interest of both sides.

 

see if the courts allow a TV deal to be deferred revenue for the owners this time...

 

 

[without a drought]

Every union (with the right to strike) advises its members to be financially prepared in case of a work stoppage at contract time.

[row_33]

30 minutes ago, without a drought said:

Every union (with the right to strike) advises its members to be financially prepared in case of a work stoppage at contract time.

 

there's also a kind of warning when drastic disappointment is coming round the mountain

[Beast]

They’ll miss a week or so of camp. Maybe even into early pre-season and then report.

[row_33]

12 minutes ago, Binghamton Beast said:

They’ll miss a week or so of camp. Maybe even into early pre-season and then report.

 

been hearing how Fatcat Athlete Armageddon will descend imminently since around 1972... soon seats will be $1 and athletes will have to drive a milk cart with a horse during the offseasons.... 

 

 

the best was when CBS tried to lowball the NFL and Fox swooped in with an epic offer and CBS was out in the cold BAM!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

21 hours ago, dneveu said:

I mean - what are the things they would want?  It feels like they barely practice as it is currently, so i'm not sure how much they can scale that back.

 

More retirement benefits?

Better insurance for life after football? 

Better salary minimums?

 

The cap is structured around the revenue splits - they have a salary floor (barely) so teams can't tank salaries for a year.  

 

The only thing i can think is the franchise tag - but the owners like the tag.  Getting rid of that you have to give something back like UFA status after 4 years for example.  2nd/3rd rounders would then be RFAs for a year or something, or you would expand 5th year options to those players as well.  

 

Saw a story the other day about Mark Gasteneau was starting a Go Fund Me page as he needed money for some major medical issue he had.  Forgot most of the details, but one thing it did state is that players only get paid medical insurance for 5 years after they retire.  That surprised me that wasn't for life, particularly when you consider the profession they are in.  Would have thought they'd at least get a highly subsidized policy for much longer.

 

The other big thing that will be talked about is clipping Rogers wings when it comes to power, but also read that the majority of the players, the ones who don't get in trouble could care less about that.  I can see alot of screaming a yelling about less power for Roger, then the league says how 2% extra in the 401K instead and the players all then say OK great, we're fine.

[Punching Bag]

1 minute ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Saw a story the other day about Mark Gasteneau was starting a Go Fund Me page as he needed money for some major medical issue he had.  Forgot most of the details, but one thing it did state is that players only get paid medical insurance for 5 years after they retire.  That surprised me that wasn't for life, particularly when you consider the profession they are in.  Would have thought they'd at least get a highly subsidized policy for much longer.

 

There are so many ex-players I cannot see that happening with players shopping between doctors to get the most benefits.  Which players would be entitled to insurance for life?  Every player who was ever in a OTA? In training camp? Played in a preseason game?  On practice squad? Made 53 man roster? Was on active roster? Actually played in game? Was on team X number of games or X number of seasons?  Are their copayments and deductibles? Does it apply retroactively?   Is it income/asset based?  There are a lot of questions involved.

[Roger Goodell]

The NFL is committed to continuing its legacy of a fair balance of economic value between the teams and the players.

[May Day 10]

It is silly to think the NFLPA can withstand any lengthy work-stoppage.

 

The NFLPA base is too big, earning windows are too small.  You have a lot of guys who like to collect all sorts of expensive cars and such and, frankly, aren't great at future financial planning.  They prefer to maintain their lifestyle unimpeded.  Do we believe Marcel Dareus gives any care about what the rookie wage scale will be in 2025?  Maybe well off guys like Brady, Brees, Gore, etc would be willing to take one for the future.... but I also have doubts those guys may essentially be willingly ending their careers by waiting out a long work stoppage.

 

On the other side, you have 32 multi-billionaires who have revenue and interest pouring in from other ventures (and their Franchise values appreciate by the month)... 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

the 2121 season is a LONG way away.  

 

I'll worry about it in 2 years 

[Watkins90]

On 5/28/2019 at 6:55 PM, Buffalo Timmy said:

i do not think that most of the players fight to hard on the rookie salary slots- the slots only hurt a handful of players each year and most guys probably resent a rookie who would be guaranteed 80 million without any production especially in a salary cap league. i would think they would fight hard for a bigger piece of pie overall and to limit Goddells power. 

The rookie salary slots are kind of a mixed bag. While veterans don't want to see the types of deals Sam Bradford got before he ever played a down in the NFL, the rookie salary structure also leads to more high priced veterans being let go each year because the rookies are much, much cheaper. 

[Punching Bag]

2 hours ago, May Day 10 said:

On the other side, you have 32 multi-billionaires who have revenue and interest pouring in from other ventures (and their Franchise values appreciate by the month)... 

 

Not all owners are in that boat.  In a long work stoppage I imagine Raiders will have financial issues.