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NFLPA Begging For a Peek At The Books

Posted Feb 4, 2010 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Feb 4, 2010 at 05:43 PM

By IRA KAUFMAN
FORT LAUDERDALE—DeMaurice Smith has looked at the tea leaves and is bracing for the worst.

The executive director of the NFL Players Association sounds like a man convinced a league-imposed lockout in 2011 is inevitable, although both sides have more than a year to work out an equitable labor agreement.

“I’m not afforded the luxury of trying to guess,’’ Smith said Thursday during an NFLPA news conference that included the presence of Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders and union president Kevin Mawae. “Our job is to look at the facts.’‘

Smith said the NFL’s actions in the past two years suggests the league is preparing to lock out the players in 2011.

“In early 2008, the NFL hired as its lead negotiator the same guy who locked out hockey,’’ he said. Smith also characterized as “lockout insurance’’ the league’s successful pursuit of $5 billion in TV revenues, even if games are not played in 2011.

Mawae said the rank-and-file is prepared to stand unified against a request by management for an 18 percent cut in the players’ share of revenues.

“We’re one team and we’re going to fight through this,’’ Mawae said. “Football is the nation’s pastime and it’ll be such a shame not to have this game in 2011. It is my belief we’ll get it done.’‘

Smith continually noted the league has failed to comply with the union’s request for more financial information, including details of team profit margins.

While an uncapped season in 2010 appears inevitable, there is plenty of time for both parties to avert a lockout.

At this point, you have to question the commitment of NFL owners in trying to avoid a shutdown. They have accumulated an impressive war chest and owners appear to have the leverage in this situation, perhaps feeling this is the time to impose their will.

Given the harsh economic climate affecting the NFL’s fan base on a daily basis, it’s going to be difficult to generate much sympathy for anyone’s plight in this $8 billion industry. As usual, the only people not represented at the bargaining table are the paying public.