Jets become 8th team to decertify FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- On Thursday, the Jets became the eighth NFL team to vote unanimously to authorize the NFL Players Association to decertify the union if a lockout became inevitable. "It's all about the big picture," offensive lineman Damien Woody said. "Players around the league, we're going to stick together and do what's best, make the game better for the players that are going to come after us." The process of decertification is a tool the union can use if the owners attempt to lock out the players. The union is concerned that owners will lock out players after the 2010 season. A union would be barred from suing the league, but if it can quickly decertify it would be able to prevail upon the courts. As much as players wanted the chance to vote, they also got the opportunity to come together and discuss some of the issues around the potential lockout, and to make a statement about how they might react in March. "It's about player leadership,"said NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith as he left the facility. Tony Richardson, the Jets player representative, said that Smith's visit was a good opportunity to talk about a lot of issues facing the team. "Since he's been in office, I think he's done a great job of making sure men are educated and getting out in front of the guys," Richardson said. Smith arrived from the airport just in time for the 4 p.m. meeting with players but took a few moments to meet with union representatives from the old Giants Stadium who were not hired to work in the New Meadowlands Stadium, and have been out work ever since. Bill Grandfield, the president of Local 100, said Smith had been meeting with stadium workers all over the country because they will be just as affected by a lockout as team employees. "Every labor union in the country has come out and indicated that this game is bigger than the hash marks," Smith said. He said that owners often talk about jobs as new stadiums are being built, and that those same jobs will be in jeopardy if there is a lockout. The union and players are also trying to win fan support to a cause that is often reduced to a fight between millionaires and billionaires. Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said the fans should get deeper into the issues because of what is at stake. "It's going to be tough on them," Pace said. "Can you imagine a Sunday without football?" Other teams have already voted to decertify, including New Orleans, Dallas, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo and the Giants. On Wednesday, the Bills voted unanimously. Friday, Smith will head to Baltimore and then to New England next Monday. "The players, the whole league, everyone has to be together," Pace said. "It can't be a situation where guys give in, because in that situation we all lose, and I think guys are together so far." The Jets showed they were united by their unanimous vote. "The season is the biggest distraction going on," Woody said. "People out there aren't really concerned about the lockout, but the players, we know it's coming. We're just trying to take appropriate measures right now so that we have the best chance to be successful if and when this thing does happen."
I would hope that nobody involved here, from the owners to the players to the media who cover the NFL, forgets that without the fans nobody gets paid. Baseball has never fully recovered from their crippling series of strikes in the 80's and 90's. There's no reason at all that the NFL needs to be the #1 professional sport in America. In fact, with the worries about sports-related injuries, I think the NFL is fairly likely to trend downwards no matter what happens. Having a major work stoppage could easily accelerate that trend.
I really cant see the NFL trending downwards. Except maybe when our country gets taken over by Latinos and soccer overwhelms the nation. But other than that football is by farrrrrrrrrr more entertaining than the other major sports. And I dont think your everyday fan really gives two shits about sports related injuries. They just like what they see on tv.
We will watch pro football no matter what. As fans it is our entertainment. For the players, it's a livelihood but the issues go beyond the salary and into their quality of life after football. I supported the players during the NHL lockout and I support the players in this case. I am not going to go into the numerous reasons why. In my opinion it is the responsibility of the fans to look into the issues and form an opinion they can speak intelligibly about. Unfortunately, many will choose to say they the players already make enough money and should just play. That's uninformed and ignorant. I don't want to lose a season, and I have no idea what I'd do without football on Sundays in the fall. I guess I'd have to learn to appreciate the CFL. Or, God forbid, the UFL. Let's just all hope both parties get to the bargaining table and work it out. The owners, to a man, have more than enough money to make some concessions and of course the PA has to be willing to bargain.
If the concussions and early deaths continue to happen at the rate they have over the last couple of decades the quality of NFL play will be legislated out of existence. They don't let coal miners breathe unfiltered air any more because over time it became clear that that always caused black lung eventually. If the current research showing that almost all deceased NFL and ex-NFL players have significant signs of brain trauma from concussive impact becomes absolutely clear down the road the NFL's ability to continue playing the brand of football they do is going to suffer tremendously. We're talking a decade out probably, but we're going to get there eventually. Either the NFL will figure out how to go to a minimal concussion game, meaning no hitting at all above the shoulders, or somebody else will force them too. One successful lawsuit would change everything and those lawsuits will come.
The one thing they need to fix are these rookies coming out of the draft in the first round and making a shit ton while our good vets like Tony Richardson get paid peanuts. If they can put a cap on draft salaries and raise the minimum base salary I'd be really happy.
That's because no one is willing to devote 12 months out of the year watching coal miners get ready to work, work, study new prospective coal miners and debate which company would be the best fit for them or begin counting down to when the next time they get to see coal miners work.
The big joke here is that they have been talking about a strike for what, 5 years now? Yet, in that time no progress? I guess the joke is really on the fans huh?
One of the two people quoted above clearly understands a bit of finance and economics, one clearly does not.
How about.... http://www.fidaf.org/ I agree with you. I am on the player's side. I think both sides need to change. If owners claim they are losing money, the as the NFLPA requested - open up the books. A rookie wage scale is important. The vets are really getting killed. Richardson is a great example. Gholston is the other. I'll support the players even though I love the logo.
