Have a Question For the NFLPA? Please Submit One Here

[Ian]

I was recently contacted by a group who is working with the NFLPA on a fan Q&A to answer questions about the current labor situation, and they've selected me as the "point of contact" for Patriots fans. As a result I'm posting this thread to give fans who would like to ask the player reps questions the opportunity to do so, and they will be submitted along with questions from fans from other teams around the league.

This event I'm told was put together at the request of Mike Donnelly and George Attalah from the NFL Players association. The plan is to put these together for a fan Q&A forum with DeMaurice Smith (provided he's not in an active meeting with the league), who will hopefully give us an inside look at what's been going on inside the negotiations.

On Monday at 2pm ET there is a UStream broadcast event scheduled where they will select questions (which will be submitted ahead of time) and they will take the time to answer them. Fans who are interested will have the ability to watch online, and like other fans in the other cities I have scheduled an event locally here in New Hampshire to bring Patriots fans together and represent us, and would love to have some of you who live in the Seacoast area attend (or even those who want to come up here and be a part of it). I'll post that information in a separate thread, because the purpose of this one is to have fans submit potential questions to be answered during Monday's broadcast:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...37133-event-nflpa-ustream-event-location.html

So if you have a question that you'd like to submit please do so in this thread, or if you'd feel more comfortable please PM me with your question and I'll send it over. I'd like to have these by tomorrow night (Thursday) so that they can be sent over and provided in time for this weekend, when they will finalize what will be asked along with the rest of the details.

Sorry for the short notice. This was apparently a last-minute thing and I wasn't given much time, but obviously they're interested to hear from fans and get them involved. So please post your question and let's make this a productive thread. No discussion please, just questions to be submitted. Save the rest for the other thread that will be added with the information.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

First off, way to go Ian on getting the forums this opportunity!
Now my question to the NFLPA:

What would the repercussions be if the Collective Bargaining Agreement is signed right before the NFL Preseason is set to begin? Would the season be delayed any sort of time?

 

[Patriot Missile]

Where is the Union at right now as far as their stance on a 18 game schedule? Have they been discussed as of yet? Is this one of the key bargaining chips for both sides?

 

[Tunescribe]

I also have a question about the 18-game schedule: Is the NFLPA aware of recent polls showing that a solid majority of NFL fans DO NOT want an 18-game regular season? Will this be presented as evidence in argument against the owners' proposal?

And: What are the prospects of a rookie salary cap being implemented for players drafted this year? Does the association agree with this concept and if so, how would you like to see it structured?

 

[Willie55]

My question: We've seen a number of players get franchised in the last couple days. We've heard that the NFLPA thinks these are acts are worthless since the collective bargaining agreement will have expired. What is the players union basing this on? What do you think the owners are basing it on that they can still franchise these players?

 

[DaBruinz]

Here is my question:

Would someone with the NFLPA be willing to list out the "benefits" that players get and whether or not they have to pay for those benefits?

Such as access to full blown gym and practice facilitiesz, trainers, medical care, food, lodging (during away games), private air travel, Retirement Services (such as Roth IRA/401K), etc..

 

[DaBruinz]

Why has the NFLPA not taken a harder stance on Concussions? Why haven't they pushed the NFL to dissolve their Exclusive deal with Riddell and allow other companies to provide helmets that are as good or even better than the ones that Riddell produces. Why does it seem they've put the entire onus on the NFL to protect the players when the players are the ones who are out there getting hit and suffering the concussions?

 

[ausbacker]

Why isn't the NFLPA forcing the league to schedule Patriots games in Australia?

 

[Froob]

If the 18 game schedule happens, who will the new 2 games likely be against?

 

[Pat_the_Patriot]

Do you understand/realize that the average fan does not support your union? Do you understand that even many hardcore union guys feel that your demands are incredulous, at best? Why would you push forward your current agenda knowing that it risks your very livelihood... or at least a portion of it?

 

[Miguel]

1.) Why have you not shown that the percentage of the cap devoted to rookies has been actually going down over the past few years?
2.) Why have you not shown that in 2009 that more cap space was devoted to phony LTBE incentives than was on the 2009 draft class?
3.) Is it true that the owners have proposed lowering the minimum salaries for all players?
4.) Why have you not listed all of the sponsorship deals that the NFL has signed since the owners opted out?
5.) Did the owners' rookie wage scale include a mechanism to ensure that the money saved actually went to the veterans?
6.) Why not show that your proposed rookie wage scale is more in line with the NBA's than the owners?
7.) Why have you not shown that the owners' rookie wage proposal would actually increase the time for some draft picks to hit free agency? Example - Currently the maximum length for the contract for a quarterback drafted in the bottom half of the 1st round is 5 years. The owners proposed 6 years. The NBA's rookie scale shorten the time to hit free agency.

 

[jmt57]

To the NFL:

• Why did the owners walk out of a recent meeting when the NFLPA proposed a 50-50 split, rather than making a counter proposal? Why explain it to the public via a press conference a few days later that you felt it was a bad idea, but not explain the same thing to the people you were sitting down and negotiating with at that time? Would that not have made more sense? Do you regret walking out of that meeting - and if not, why not?
  
• Why is the union being forced to make concessions for subjects that seem to be between small and big market owners? The topics of what revenues are shared and how they are shared seems to be more of a matter between owners than it does owners and players. As for the matter of salaries to first round draft picks, isn't that really a matter between owners? The union never said owners have to pay those salaries to those players. Besides, for every bust aren't there several players producing well below market value for three or four years?
  
• One of the union's proposals was for a guarantee protecting players in the rare case of career-ending injuries; the owners are against this. Note this guarantee is strictly for career-ending injuries and not for a deterioration of expected skill levels. Why is ownership against this type of clause in a rookie contract?
  
• The players have proposed a setting of the 2011 rookie pool to the 2009 level. After that it would increase in correlation to how the overall cap increases. Why are you against that proposal?

To the union:

• Why are you not making fundamental changes to the equipment being used a bigger issue? Some feel that the helmet and even shoulder pads are as much a weapon that cause injury as they are protection. Why is there no call for independent research into creating safer equipment for your union members? Why not call for open bidding on this gear rather than exclusive contracts determined by the owners?
  
• A number of players over the years have been suspended for non-performing enhancement drugs that have been shown to have little or no negative effects on a player's well being. Examples would range from over the counter supplements to cold medicine (both of which are legal) to marijuana, which is decriminalized in many parts of the country now. Why has the union not stood up for its members and attempted to have suspensions for any or all of these type of products removed? Roger Goodell has gone on the record of saying he wants even stricter drug testing; why no negotiations on this matter by the NFLPA?
  
• Over the years the plight of retired players has been made public several times. Many such as John Unitas suffered greatly through their final years because they were denied health benefits. Why is the union not pushing to make it easier for former players to receive benefits? It is most likely that many of these chronic conditions are a result from having played in the NFL when they were younger. Why would the union idly sit by and watch these former players deteriorate? Does the current union leadership in agreement with Gene Upshaw's viewpoint that the union only represents current players and not former players?

 

[BPF]

1.) To this point it seems like both sides are arguing over points that have nothing to do with what's at the heart of the situation. The 18-game season, illegal or borderline hits, rookie wage scale, suspensions, etc, etc are not the main issues -- both sides need to figure out how the pie will be split and what number the split will be derived from and surely all the other peripheral issues will fall in line. When will the rhetoric stop and the real negotiating take place?

2.) Do the owners want an additional $1 billion off the top for operating expenses in addition to the $1 billion they already take off the top? What is your response to the Matthew Futterman piece in the Wall Street Journal today (2/17) on the NFL's economics? Taxpaper money for new stadiums has dried up while ticket revenue has flattened (with avg ticket costs being $76 in this economy can you see that increasing and how can you expect the fans to pay for that?) in addition the growth of broadcast revenue has slowed. Couple that with the fact that NFL players have doubled their compensation over the past decade and you can see why the other side wants a new deal. Do you care about the growth of the game in the future or is it about securing the best deal for your side (some might call it grabbing the most $$ you can now since the average players career is 3.4 years) and let the next group worry about the next CBA deal?

3.) We understand that both sides are trying to exert the maximum leverage at this point to show "strength" and conviction and we understand that doing less would be a signal of "weakness" but the key to getting a deal done is a willingness to compromise, does De Smith have the ability to do what he's shown he hasn't been able to do thus far in his professional career and compromise?

4.) Has anyone reached out to owner's like Robert Kraft, who seem willing to and have the ability and clout to act as bridge to other other side?

 

[patsfan-1982]

the players need to understand that playing in the NFL is not a job it's a blessing every kid wants to play football but only a hand full are blessed with the talent to play in the NFL... yes we all know that they could get hurt but so could someone working at mcdonalds only the americans with real jobs dont have millions + health care to fall back on

 

[Ian]

the players need to understand that playing in the NFL is not a job it's a blessing every kid wants to play football but only a hand full are blessed with the talent to play in the NFL... yes we all know that they could get hurt but so could someone working at mcdonalds only the americans with real jobs dont have millions + health care to fall back on

We'll certainly have a thread for debate after this one, but for now please just continue posting your questions to be submitted to them later this evening.

 

[Deus Irae]

I see a lot of good questions here. I may have missed this one in someone's post, so my apologies if I did:

Will you hold out for a new discipline system, or will you continue to allow the Commissioner to serve as judge, jury and executioner?

 

[part-timer]

The owners are the only ones takeing financial risks and if it weren't for revinue shareing a few franchises would cease to exist. It is in your best intrest to keep the franchises all healthy. The owners would be better off allowing the nonprofitable franchises to dissolve which would concentrate nfl profits to fewer franchises and DRIVE DOWN player wages due to an excess of quality players competeing for jobs, and increase the quality of NFL games due to the concentration of quality players. Does the NFLPA even recognize that this option could be Ownerships ultimate move. It would not be the first time a company downsized and closed nonprofitable franchises to remain profitable, with only the hired help (players) loseing. Are the players intent on putting the future of the NFL at risk for their own short term gain? After all they are only looking out for their average of a 3.4 year career.

 

[Ian]

Questions have been sent. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread!

Ian