Laborgate

[mav1234]

Gene Upshaw was the guy who didn't want to deal with Martin, because he said clearly he was not representing the vets...meaning he was representing the NFL....the union can't allow non-union members to obtain sensitive information during a CBA negotiation....

I think you're confused. Gene Upshaw said he doesn't represent retired players. By your logic, he represented the NFL. That is... a strange way to look at it. It is more likely that retired players represent their own interests than purely that of the NFL or the current players.

Upshaw and the retirees' representatives agree on this point: There is virtually no bond between the active players and the retired ones. The union chief casually observes that the retirees don't pay his salary and that, therefore, he doesn't represent them. "My obligation is to the players playing now," he says. "And it's a different kind of group these days."

from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012904015.html?sid=ST2008013101655

Edit: Did you misread this quote from the article you cited maybe?

The late Gene Upshaw once said that he doesn’t represent former players.

This was in reference to Upshaw, not Martin.

[mav1234]

For those interested, here's another link to "Martin vs Smith" : http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/George-Martin-criticizes-DeMaurice-Smith.html

[riddel]

For those interested, here's another link to "Martin vs Smith" : http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/George-Martin-criticizes-DeMaurice-Smith.html

Makes it pretty clear that the players union and legacy are on different pages. If the players union is responsible for legacy funds, then you would think Martin would support the financial transparency required by the players union. Martin apparently doesn't care about the CBA, only the legacy funding. How is this being a team player? The players union is simply trying to get the best deal they can, while the Martin is asking them to take a deal that is not in the players union's best interest...sounds like Martin is working for the NFL to me...

[Anybodyhome]

Wondered why that made absolutely no sense. Thanks for putting the real quotes and links up. But then, I know riddell is a player apologist and NFLPA supporter, so I expected some form of propoganda, just not outright misquotes.

A little objectivity goes a long way.

[riddel]

The million dollar loan was to all vets.

Correct. At 0%.

[carolinarolls]

I dismissed it as first. However, the more you post, the more I am inclined to think you are a PR plant for the NFLPA. Then again, you might be a plant for Zod to simply stir the poo.

Anywho, good luck selling your agenda... people are severely aware of just what you and HP are

yea this zero has not made any sense in two months about any of this and would likely serve more stubbornly than DeNumbnutz Smith if given the opportunity. It's moron fans like this that worship the individual over the sport that will eventually run this sport into the ground. (that is if you think its not there already)

[Ricky Spanish]

fuck. all. of. this.

[mav1234]

Makes it pretty clear that the players union and legacy are on different pages. If the players union is responsible for legacy funds, then you would think Martin would support the financial transparency required by the players union. Martin apparently doesn't care about the CBA, only the legacy funding. How is this being a team player? The players union is simply trying to get the best deal they can, while the Martin is asking them to take a deal that is not in the players union's best interest...sounds like Martin is working for the NFL to me...

I don't think you understand. You see this as "Players versus Owners" and see that Martin is on the side of the owners.

The NFLPA is not completely in charge of the legacy funds and it certainly does not have the best interests of former players at its heart. How much more obvious is that than when Gene Upshaw himself said it? Sure, they do bargain on behalf of retired players at times, but by the same token, the NFL itself occasionally helps out retired players outside of the NFLPA.

Maybe Martin is friendlier to the NFL than to the NFLPA, but to say he works for the NFL just because he doesn't want to sign on to NFLPA demands is silly. The reality is likely that retired players have their own goals that do not fall directly in line with the goals of either the NFL or the NFLPA.

[riddel]

I don't think you understand. You see this as "Players versus Owners" and see that Martin is on the side of the owners.

The NFLPA is not completely in charge of the legacy funds and it certainly does not have the best interests of former players at its heart. How much more obvious is that than when Gene Upshaw himself said it? Sure, they do bargain on behalf of retired players at times, but by the same token, the NFL itself occasionally helps out retired players outside of the NFLPA.

Maybe Martin is friendlier to the NFL than to the NFLPA, but to say he works for the NFL just because he doesn't want to sign on to NFLPA demands is silly. The reality is likely that retired players have their own goals that do not fall directly in line with the goals of either the NFL or the NFLPA.

I understand perfectly. Martin wants the players union to take a deal that is not in their best interest and shows no financial transparency by the NFL, thus not allowing the union to make an informed decision concerning the CBA. Martin could careless about the current players, he just wants the legacy funds.

[riddel]

yea this zero has not made any sense in two months about any of this and would likely serve more stubbornly than DeNumbnutz Smith if given the opportunity. It's moron fans like this that worship the individual over the sport that will eventually run this sport into the ground. (that is if you think its not there already)

If not making sense you mean adding perspective and insight to those that have their heads in the sand, then thank you.

[The Saltman]

DO you work for the NFLPA riddel?

[riddel]

DO you work for the NFLPA riddel?

Let's just say, I understand exactly where they are coming from, but no I do not.

What the owners are doing is wrong. I just call it like I see it.

[panthers55]

This whole argument is about who is going to represent the retired players' interests, the alumni association or the players union. The alumni association has no ties to the union and operates independently. The union wants to control the issues involved because it is a big bargaining chip they can use in the negotiations even though once player's retire they no longer belong to the union. Even fans who are mad at the players for wanting too much sympathize with the the great and hall of famers who made the game and missed out on the big paydays and are living more hand to mouth.

Smith wants to use the retired players as leverage to get what he wants. Martin wants the alumni to get money outside of the CBA so the pensions aren't tied to a CBA agreement which can change from agreement to agreement. And Martin wants them to get paid right away. He is leery of the players union under Upshaw and Smith feeling that they have never given a damn about the retired players except when they can trot it out as a bargaining chip.

Who is right or wrong I really don't know but these are things I have read over the past several years.

[twylyght]

Let's just say, I understand exactly where they are coming from, but no I do not.

What the owners are doing is wrong. I just call it like I see it.

Plant