Their war chest is full and the NFL Players’ Association (NFLPA) on Thursday said it is telling members to prepare for battle, with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) set to expire in 2021.
Sounding very much like a lockout by owners is inevitable, NFLPA president Eric Winston told a news conference that he has warned players to save their money and get into a game-day mindset.
“They’ve got to know what they are up against, they got to know what’s coming and they have to understand, just like in a game, the tactics that are going to be used against them and how to fight against it,” Winston said.
The current CBA was signed in 2011 after a 132-day lockout. It was a negotiation that players were widely seen as being on the losing side, and Winston said that the executive committee had learned its lesson.
The NFLPA has “hundreds of millions of dollars in the war chest” and has made an effort to educate players — many of whom have never been part of CBA bargaining — about the negotiating process, he said.
“We’re able to take the dues and put them away into an investable war chest for a work stoppage,” Winston said.
“I’m not saying we are sitting here waiting for a lockout. Hopefully down the road we can figure something out, but at the end of the day, to me, it would be malpractice if we weren’t ready,” he added.
Many of the issues that are to be on the bargaining table are familiar: money, revenue sharing, and player health and safety.
Others are new, with the legalization of gambling, the use of medical marijuana, and rules to cover player protests and their right to freedom of expression.
“CBAs are wonderfully dense things that have a lot of issues in them and anybody who is a member of a union and actually engaged in collective bargaining knows that it is one of the messiest, nastiest things you can do,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely