NFL responds to players union letter, lockout still looms
There is a fierce struggle going on behind the scenes between the National Football League and the Players Association. While the regular season dominates football news, discussions behind closed doors continue that would decide the fate of the 2011 season.
On the surface of it, both sides try to paint a pretty picture but a closer look reveals the truth of it all. There is mistrust and bitterness in the air. Recently, the Players Association wrote a letter to lawmakers and government officials, warning of
the financial costs in case of an NFL lockout. In the letter, the Association questioned NFL owners’ commitment to the negotiations to avoid a lockout. In fact, it alleged that the owners want to force the Association into a lockout because they would continue
to thrive financially in any event.
NFL has responded negatively to the letter and the Players Association’s attempt to bring lawmakers into the labour dispute. The NFL issued a highly critical press release of its own. The league said that if the Players Association has time to write letters
and talk to the press, they should also talk to the league about their concerns. In its response, the league also said that the Players Association’s attempt to drag state and local leaders into this labour dispute ‘ignores and denigrates’ the far more serious
issues that those persons have to deal with.
The league added that the two sides can resolve their issues and have done so successfully many times before but negotiations cannot be successful unless the NFLPA decides to participate in resolving them and negotiates with the league.
Answering the financial concerns raised by the NFLPA in its letter, the press release brought to light the fact that businesses all over the country had implemented severe measures to cut costs and raise revenues, including but not limited to cutting salaries,
layoffs and benefit reductions. The league said that despite the state of the economy, NFL has continuously increased compensation to the players over the past two decades and would continue to do so.
NFLPA just isn’t happy with the proposed compensation package offered for the 18 game season. The Players Association thinks that 18 games would take an exceptionally high physical toll on the players and cause more injuries. However, recently released injury
data suggests that their concerns might be unwarranted. This season has seen a drop in injuries compared to last year. Last year, an average team suffered 5.9 injuries which caused a player to miss more than six weeks compared to just 3.9 in this season. The
Players Association has not denied or disputed the data but insists that it is too early in the season to draw conclusions.
Miami Dolphins' owner Stephen Ross disagrees. He said that according to studies that have been conducted in this regard, shifting two games from the pre-season to the regular season would not have a significant impact on injuries. NFLPA’s Executive Director,
DeMaurice Smith rebuked Ross and implied that his statement not only shows that the owners just don’t understand the issues facing the players but also that they are insensitive to them.
“Right now, the NFL is suing nearly 300 players to deny their right to workers compensation. They want to cancel players’ health insurance in March and we are fighting for player disability claims every day,” Smith said.
NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello defended Ross’ statement, adding that the NFL had proven its commitment to players’ safety in its recent effort to clamp down on helmet to helmet hits. He said that the league had been addressing the NFLPA’s safety concerns. Aiello
denied that the league was planning to or wanted to cancel health insurance. He said that it was Smith who was well aware of the fact that even in the case of a lockout, players and their families would continue to receive health benefits and for Smith to
suggest otherwise was inexcusable and dishonest.
Between all of the mudslinging and mistrust, the two sides have to come together to save the 2011 season. The cost of a lockout would be over a $100 million dollars for each city but more importantly, what would I write about in 2011?
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