Sources: NFLPA orders draft boycott

[Seamonk]

More like I believe that the Owners came in with an initial proposal so far out of bounds that negotiations were set back because of it. To me it's like negotiating with someone for a 20 dollar item and you start off at 1 dollar. You are so far out of bounds the other side can't really even put in a counter proposal.

Negotiating never starts at the middle. Good negotiators know how to bring down a price. The current price was at par with what was in place before. There were only going to be concessions given.. What would the Owners/NFL have gotten out of a new CBA? an 18 game schedule? You can't just negotiate by giving up everything at once.

[blackcatgrowl]

You have to just laugh at the Panthers luck. First they have a terrible season, then they lose out on Andrew Luck, then the rest of the Draft is pretty weak and they probably can't trade down, then a lockout comes, and now no one will be at the Draft.

Classic.

I doubt luck had anything to do with it. Richardson has positioned himself on the offensive towards the NFLPA for a couple years now. He's not been a voice of peace and reason in all this (at an owners retreat, he had some "strong words" about "taking back our league").

Still... the NFLPA's intentions are clear now. They never wanted to negotiate. They wanted to litigate. This could damage the NFL severly if it drags on. I'm reading April 6th will be the first hearing. At this rate, we'll be lucky to have NFL Football in 2012.

[Happy Panther]

I can understand why the NFLPA doesn't want the NFL profiting off of the draftees...who are players (nearly) and the NFL has locked out the players.

Bad press for them though

[Seamonk]

Andrew Luck was smart to stay in school at this rate. He'd be making more money than any of these players with his degree.

[Urrymonster]

Again, you didn't read. The players association wants to contract with another TV network and present the 17 players with their hat and record the family reaction. The 17 players could then get the proceeds from their appearance and they wouldn't miss anything.

No NFL players do not get paid for their names or likenesses. Reebok contracts directly with the NFL, the players don't get squat. EA Sports and 2K doesn't give them a penny either, due to their contract with the NFL.

Comparing MLS makes no sense. The MLS doesn't bring in the revenues that the NFL does. You can't compare any professional sports league to another, because it's like comparing apples and oranges.....they are all totally different.

Except, why on Earth would anyone watch that over the actual draft? Knowing this why would any sponsors go anywhere near it? Without the sponsors where does this money coming from?

On the flip side these guys almost certainly get paid to do commercials, their agent could swing it to get them some extra endorsements because of the tv exposure that they would get on the NFL Network.

[Proudiddy]

DeMarurice Smith is a fuging tool.

To try and deprive the honor of walking the stage for these young men to make a statement is childish.

This is a dream of every football player.

fug the NFLPA!!!!!!!

On the other hand, it makes it easier for the players to say they don't want to do it this year being that it's the first year (because of no CBA) that the NFL isn't paying all the expenses for the top prospects to be in NY to make that 'walk across the stage.'

I like it. The NFL and the greedy owners who colluded and set aside money with the intent of having a lockout (yet refused to open up the books) can't use the draft as yet another reason to ride on the players back to another mound of money.

[teeray]

I do not mean to insult you with this comment, but I don't think you understand why the union had to decertify. The owners were going to lock the players out once the CBA expired. Once the CBA expired the players would have to wait for 6 months to decertify. The only way the players could decertify and have an opportunity to BLOCK the lockout was to decertify. By decertifying the players very well may have SAVED the NFL season, because a judge is most likely going to reinstate the 2010 CBA, while the antitrust lawsuits take place. Meaning the NFL will play football as we know it in 2011 and probably 2012, 2013. The lawsuits very well may change the face of the NFL, but it was not the players choice to do this. The owners opted out of the CBA and they pushed for the lockout. The players simply did what they had to do to prevent a lockout and replacement players.

It comes down to the fact that the NFL didn't prove financial hardship. If they had, then the players union would have never pushed this thing to an antitrust lawsuit. The only reason they would be pursuing these lawsuits is because they have PROOF that they can win. It's WAY too big of a gamble and they wouldn't throw it all away, if they didn't know the NFL was no bargaining in good faith, when it comes to their loses.

I understand completely why they had to decertify but no offense taken.

I just believe wholeheartedly that the request for ten years of audited financial statement to be turned over directly to the union was a bullsh*t request. it was a request to give them so the NFLPA had political cover to decertify. It was never a legitimate request and they actually have no desire to see those financial records.

Not to mention that if the issue at hand is the current CBA adversely effecting the NFL than why do they want 10 years of financial documents?? That question has yet to be adequately answered.

I am 80% sure this deal will get done without the NFLPA EVER seeing those records to that extent. Because they don't even want them.

D-Smith wants a big win in his first bargaining agreement with the NFL. He is trying to blow up the NFL and get it as close as possible the MLB for the simple sake of stroking his own ego. He has talked tough since the day he was hired and shown absolutely no evidence that he was ever going to work with the NFL to get to a middle ground on the issues.

It has been his desire from the moment the owners opted out to get this thing to litigation where he thinks the courts will reward him with a BIG win for the players but will be a bad agreement for the fans.

[mav1234]

Again. Why should the NFL and their networks profit from the players appearance?

because no matter what you or the NFLPA seems to think, there is only one NFL Draft stage and the NFLPA wants to deprive these kids of the chance to walk across it...

[cdandi1]

This is another example that the players feel that it is their right to play football. They forget that it is a privilege to be a professional athlete. But I also feel that the majority of the players just wanna play and this is just a greedy DeMaurice Smith.

[riddel]

On the other hand, it makes it easier for the players to say they don't want to do it this year being that it's the first year (because of no CBA) that the NFL isn't paying all the expenses for the top prospects to be in NY to make that 'walk across the stage.'

I like it. The NFL and the greedy owners who colluded and set aside money with the intent of having a lockout (yet refused to open up the books) can't use the draft as yet another reason to ride on the players back to another mound of money.

yep

[Seamonk]

It won't be long before some players flip sides. DeMaurice is making moves too questionable and from the looks of it, not informing the rest of his "trade association" of what they will be. I'm just hoping Antonio Cromartie says something again because the first time was pretty funny.

[jtnc]

Actually the draftees won't be actually 'players' until the CBA. Since their contract cannot be signed until the CBA is reached.

[Seamonk]

They already recruited Von Miller.. and I'm sure that will affect his draft status. In a good or bad way.

[riddel]

The fact is, the NFL needed a players union prior to the 80s due to unfair labor practices. The players were used and abused in the past, but today, that's not an issue.

Maybe the NFL doesn't need a CBA or players union any longer. Maybe the fair market should determine what players are worth and players should be treated liked actors rather than union workers. The best actors get the biggest contracts, while the supporting actors dod what they can do to get by.

This may be exactly how it should be. Why does the NFL need a CBA? It's there to protect the owners and players, but if both sides no longer want it, then let the market decide and let's play some football!