A leverage tactic for the NFLPA

History has shown that NFL players are reluctant to strike given the reality that strikes eliminate large paychecks for players whose careers average 3.5 years.

WHAT IF……….Instead of a work stoppage that affects the beginning of the NFL season, the NFLPA chooses to boycott the playoffs after its members cash 16 weeks of game checks. The monetary loss is minimum and only affects players on teams that qualify for the playoffs and players with playoff incentive clauses.

Imagine the pressure on the league by outside forces….fans, advertisers, networks.

I imagine some collective bargaining document includes this very topic and I also have to believe some kind of poison pill was installed to scare the crap out of the NFLPA…….but who says the NFLPA has to keep playing by the rules…..Goodell doesn't.

Just an idea….fire away….

The basic problem with any type of action by the rank and file is that the vast majority hate the Pats, hate Brady, and fully believe that he cheated.

The NFLPA legal department has lots of motivation to get the arbitration fixed (now or at the next CBA time), but the players are mostly happy that TB and the Pats have been knocked down a few pegs. I can't see them losing paychecks to support this cause.

It would be interesting, for sure. The NBA union was born out of something like that. Literally on the eve of the first nationally-televised All-Star Game the players notified the league they would not play if the league would not negotiate in good faith with them.

PrairiePat said:

The basic problem with any type of action by the rank and file is that the vast majority hate the Pats, hate Brady, and fully believe that he cheated.

The NFLPA legal department has lots of motivation to get the arbitration fixed (now or at the next CBA time), but the players are mostly happy that TB and the Pats have been knocked down a few pegs. I can't see them losing paychecks to support this cause.

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This. This this this.

The NFLPA is defending Brady in court, but there is simply no groundswell of support among the rank and file to do anything dramatic.

borg said:

I imagine some collective bargaining document includes this very topic and I also have to believe some kind of poison pill was installed to scare the crap out of the NFLPA…….but who says the NFLPA has to keep playing by the rules…..Goodell doesn't.

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Well, the "poison pill" is a clause whereby the parties agree there will be no strikes and no lockouts during the course of the CBA, which has 5 years remaining on it.

If the NFLPA violated a clause written in clear black and white, they could be liable for an awful lot of damages.

XLIX said:

Well, the "poison pill" is a clause whereby the parties agree there will be no strikes and no lockouts during the course of the CBA, which has 5 years remaining on it.

If the NFLPA violated a clause written in clear black and white, they could be liable for an awful lot of damages.

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This would surely happen in a lockout/strike year (in other words, after the contract ran out).

The Patriots can back their man, say nothing go through the normal pre game workouts for the opening Sunday night game, and then when they go back to the locker room 15 minutes before kickoff, change back into their street clothes and leave. NBC would be screaming at the league, Kraft would say, "hey what can I do?". What can they do? dock them all a game check? If Kraft had any balls, he would pay them anyways.

XLIX said:

Well, the "poison pill" is a clause whereby the parties agree there will be no strikes and no lockouts during the course of the CBA, which has 5 years remaining on it.

If the NFLPA violated a clause written in clear black and white, they could be liable for an awful lot of damages.

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The NFL, however, can pick and choose which part of the CBA to follow as they wish.

upstater1 said:

This would surely happen in a lockout/strike year (in other words, after the contract ran out).

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Ignoring the fact that I'm not really worried right now about what might happen 6 years from now, I think it's safe to say that any future CBA's will have similar "no strike/lockout" clauses.

So yes, you could strike before the season starts without a CBA in place (good luck with that), but the notion that the players should play a full season, collecting all their paychecks, and then strike won't work.

XLIX said:

If the NFLPA violated a clause written in clear black and white, they could be liable for an awful lot of damages.

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But they could appeal... to Roger!

what a f**ked up system

Time for some Foxboro Flu.

FreeTedWilliams said:

The Patriots can back their man, say nothing go through the normal pre game workouts for the opening Sunday night game, and then when they go back to the locker room 15 minutes before kickoff, change back into their street clothes and leave. NBC would be screaming at the league, Kraft would say, "hey what can I do?". What can they do? dock them all a game check? If Kraft had any balls, he would pay them anyways.

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Perfect. Lets see who has the guts.
DW Toys

betterthanthealternative said:

Time for some Foxboro Flu.

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That works too.
DW Toys

XLIX said:

Ignoring the fact that I'm not really worried right now about what might happen 6 years from now, I think it's safe to say that any future CBA's will have similar "no strike/lockout" clauses.

So yes, you could strike before the season starts without a CBA in place (good luck with that), but the notion that the players should play a full season, collecting all their paychecks, and then strike won't work.

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There would be no contract. You're assuming a contract would be in place.

upstater1 said:

There would be no contract. You're assuming a contract would be in place.

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While technically possible, it is not even remotely realistic to think that owners and players would go forward with the 2021 season, the offseason workouts, exhibition season, 16 games, etc, without a CBA in place (or at least an agreement in principle).

Unfortunately most players don't care about Brady and have put themselves in a poor financial situation. If the majority of players were smart with their money they wouldn't get taken to the woodshed every time they negotiate a new CBA.

will never happen for any player.

can you imagine if goodell wiped the suspension away anyway to end everything?? lol i bet the race hustlers will cite brady's white privilege!!! now that would be something

there's probably contractual wording in the CBA that prevents such actions

and you'll never get the players to go with this as a group

PrairiePat said:

The basic problem with any type of action by the rank and file is that the vast majority hate the Pats, hate Brady, and fully believe that he cheated.

The NFLPA legal department has lots of motivation to get the arbitration fixed (now or at the next CBA time), but the players are mostly happy that TB and the Pats have been knocked down a few pegs. I can't see them losing paychecks to support this cause.

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The Brady case is just the most recent Case du Jour for the NFLPA and highlights the prone position the NFLPA finds itself in given the pressure it faces to keep paychecks flowing. Boycotting the playoffs is a means to create leverage for a group that just was smacked down by an appeals court. I would hope the players would see the bigger picture and be capable of recognizing the fight is for their rights, not just Brady's….. but evidently you don't see it.

borg said:

The Brady case is just the most recent Case du Jour for the NFLPA and highlights the prone position the NFLPA finds itself in given the pressure it faces to keep paychecks flowing. Boycotting the playoffs is a means to create leverage for a group that just was smacked down by an appeals court. I would hope the players would see the bigger picture and be capable of recognizing the fight is for their rights, not just Brady's….. but evidently you don't see it.

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I don't think the issue is @PrairiePat not seeing the big picture. I think the issue is a complete lack of faith that the players as a collective would see the big picture. The NFLPA membership, collectively, is not an intelligent group of people.