Sources: NFLPA orders draft boycott

[teeray]

I don't think this gives the NFLPA or the players any additional leverage. The fact that the players are not present changes NOTHING with the workings of the draft.

It just makes the existing players look like spoiled little bitches.

So what you are telling me is that they are taking the best day of these kid's lives for nothing essentially.

Even worse.

Part of the fun of being drafted in the first round is being there, having your name called, and walking across that stage.

The NFLPA should not take that away from these kids. That is my point.

[csx]

actually it destroys ratings for the NFL network/ESPN/etc since no one is going to sit around and watch it when no players will be going up to get their jersey and do interviews. people would just follow it via live updater/blogs on several websites.

They only have like 10 players there anyway. It's not like people stop watching when they've all been selected.

[Dpantherman]

So what you are telling me is that they are taking the best day of these kid's lives for nothing essentially.

Even worse.

Part of the fun of being drafted in the first round is being there, having your name called, and walking across that stage.

The NFLPA should not take that away from these kids. That is my point.

the NFLPA decertified. they can't make them do anything.

[stirs]

NFLPA..."we are partners with the NFL and want what is best for the league"

Right

That is why we want to destroy something the fans love. You know, the fans, the people who "dig" our game

[Mvp2014]

DeMaurice Smith is everything wrong with America in one walking talking bag of oxygen theft.

hahah I 2nd this

[Sam Mills Fan]

First legitimate big mistake by the players. Since the owners and teams will be there and the incoming players won't be, fair or not, this will be seen like the PLAYERS are the ones obstructing things. New players that normally aren't even NFLPA members anyway in a regular year attending doesn't hurt things one way or the other. This ONLY hurts the fans who want to see the top players there.

Shame on the NFLPA for this.

[Murph]

Don't forget that several of those guys have signed endorsements and filmed commercials that will be shown during the draft. Their sponsors will press their agents to make them attend. And I am sure the agents will be more than happy to comply.

Too much money at stake that evening for a few of those guys.

[teeray]

the NFLPA decertified. they can't make them do anything.

I certainly puts these young men in an awkward position. And doesn't the NFLPA regulate the agents (when they are a union)? Any agent would be unwise to go against the wishes of the NFLPA because they can catch repercussions on the back end when the union reforms. And the agents will be the ones advising the kids on what to do

[Sam Mills Fan]

I'm pretty sure that players aren't even represented by the NFLPA normally until they sign or are at least drafted. Otherwise, the thousands of college players that submit their names to the draft and don't have a chance in hell of being picked are automatically members...pretty sure that doesn't happen.

[Swarly]

They only have like 10 players there anyway. It's not like people stop watching when they've all been selected.

Most of the ratings come from the first round selection show. Not everyone follows football like we do. We're all real fans and probably watch the entire draft.. the casual football fan will tune in to the primetime special, see who their team picks first, and change the channel.

The biggest thing that makes draft day so appealing is all of the interviews, the reactions of players getting drafted, etc.

[Mvp2014]

man i'm glad people are starting to open their eyes. For the longest time all I heard was wah wah the players get hurt wah wah they deserve more than those rich guys, now you see they are greedy fugs just like their lawyers that are planning on cashing in on them

[Sam Mills Fan]

I certainly puts these young men in an awkward position. And doesn't the NFLPA regulate the agents (when they are a union)? Any agent would be unwise to go against the wishes of the NFLPA because they can catch repercussions on the back end when the union reforms.

Very true, if the NFLPA doesn't want them there, I suspect most if not all will do what they want regardless of whether they "have to" or not.

[mav1234]

For the record I think both sides are full of poo. I just think the owners tried to strong arm the players in the beginning and it lead to an impass. They could have easily given concessions weeks ago, but according to most reports, they were not even close to where the last proposal was. Going 18 games, rookie caps, 2 billion off the top, and negotiating that back door TV deal was too much to start with.

Not sure I understand - you fault the owners for going through a negotiating process and making concessions too late? You think that if this (meaning the latest) proposal was on the table two weeks ago the players wouldnt have decertified? I really do not agree at all.

[Sam Mills Fan]

man i'm glad people are starting to open their eyes. For the longest time all I heard was wah wah the players get hurt wah wah they deserve more than those rich guys, now you see they are greedy fugs just like their lawyers that are planning on cashing in on them

This sounds like a stupid DeMaurice Smith thing, not a players-as-a-whole thing.