Union Tells NFL Players to Save Pay in Case of Lockout
- Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:51pm by
Scott Baker
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The NFL players’ union has advised its members to prepare for a lockout in March, telling players to save their last three game checks this year in case there is no season in 2011.
In a letter to the players that was seen by The Associated Press, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union had an “internal deadline” for agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement.
“That deadline has now passed,” he wrote. “It is important that you protect yourself and your family.”
It was not clear what effect the passing of the self-imposed deadline would have on negotiations. NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said in an e-mail to the AP that he would not comment because the letter was supposed to be internal.
But copies of the letter, which was dated Wednesday, were strewn across a table in the New England Patriots locker room on Saturday where they were visible to players, reporters and team officials. After a reporter asked players about the letter, a Patriots spokesman flipped the copies face-down.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello called the deadline “disappointing and inexplicable, especially for fans.”
“We hope this does not mean the union has abandoned negotiating in favor of decertifying and litigating,” he said. “We are ready to meet and negotiate anytime and anywhere. But it takes sustained effort and shared commitment to reach an agreement. One side can’t do it alone.”
The NFL has not missed games due to labor strife since 1987, when owners responded to a player strike by continuing the season with replacement players. But the prospect of a lost season in 2011 intensified when owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement in 2008.
Smith has said that he believes the owners opted out with the goal of locking the players out. The NFLPA’s home page features a “Lockout Watch” that counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the CBA expires on March 3.
The one-page letter on NFLPA stationery said the union expects the lockout on March 4, and that players should work with their advisers to prepare for an impending lack of income.
It also said the league threatened to cancel the players’ health insurance.
The union said it is filing a grievance to contest a cancellation of health insurance, citing a section of the collective bargaining agreement that states: “Players will continue to receive the benefits provided in this article through the end of the Plan Year in which they are released or otherwise sever employment.”
Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light, one of the team’s player representatives, said players understand the nature of the business but the threat to cancel health insurance is different.
“You‘re going to cancel somebody’s health insurance and maybe they‘ve got a baby that’s due in the offseason?” he said. “Yeah, it gets personal.”
Aiello said that there would be no interruption of health care, because of the federal COBRA law that allows employees to continue coverage at their own expense.
“This means that no player or family member would experience any change in coverage for so much as a single day because of a work stoppage,” he said. “The union surely knows this and there is no excuse for suggesting otherwise.”
Light said he is doing his best to educate his teammates on how to prepare.
“They‘ve got to look at it like they’re going into a period in which they are going to change their financial situation,” he said. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen. But if you’re going to go a year without getting paid, you need to prepare accordingly.”
Under the deal agreed to in 2006, the players get 59.6 percent of designated NFL revenues. The owners opted out of that deal beginning next year, arguing they have huge debts from building stadiums and starting up the NFL Network that make it impossible to be profitable.
The two sides met last month and said they made “some progress” on proposals involving an 18-game regular season and limiting offseason workouts.
Players have taken their case to the public in recent weeks, briefing Congress on the job loss and other economic impact of a lockout and even drafting letters for lawmakers to send to the league. Using many of the same studies the NFL relies on when trumpeting public subsidies for new stadiums, an economist commissioned by the union estimated an average of about $160 million in local spending and 3,000 jobs would be lost in each league city if the full 2011 season were wiped out.
The NFL called the figures “a fairy tale.”
New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain said he was already squirreling away his savings in case of a lockout. Banta-Cain said he was also working on his outside businesses, which include a clothing line and a music label.
“I’m trying to prepare,” he said. “And I’m trying to establish my off-the-field businesses and make sure I can make money in the offseason.”
___
AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this story from Washington, D.C.
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Comments (117)
shorthanded12
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:40amNFL = Has become the No Fun League. Major League Baseball has become The Hispanic/Asian Baseball League, Not going to touch The NBA but just look up the ethnic makeup and discusting to see grown ass men from head to toe with tatoos. 70% blacks, 18% foriegn born and 10% whites. Professional sports have become overpaid whiney ass players, over regulated Front officices. Ultimately the Fans have to pay for these over bloated wages at the ticket booth. Right now theres one professional league that has the spark yet but there inching there way towards other leagues and I mean prices at the gate and cost for food/beverage and memoriblia cost. Leave it to Unions to destroy everything that this country was built on. Heres a little tip for the NFL…HOW ABOUT IMPOSING A DRESS CODE FOR THE FIELD…SICK OF SEEING PLAYERS WITH HAIR DOWN TO THERE ASS HANGING OUT THERE HELMETS. Its going to take but one serious incident to make the NFL impose such rules. Lets not leave out NASCAR the dayum point system needs to be done away with or totaly over hauled. Im a sports fan from child hood to adult but totaly discusted with how unions and owners and front officies have become greedy. The last true professional players in modern time was Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. They had passion for there sport there whole careers.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:40amBoth sides have no idea how lucky they are. The lockout is imminent because the Union won‘t accept lower pay and the NFL won’t back down from its stupid 18 game schedule.
Report Post »YesNdeedie
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:13amOnce again the union is attempting to control and rule. Since they are threatening to pull the plug and strike I say to them good-bye. Their threat should be responded to as an immediate suspension by the public of viewing further games and no team clothing or memorabilia purchased. We sent a strong message November 2 to the rads now it’s time to send another message. The players are extremely overpaid for playing. The price of a ticket, parking, concessions is astronomical, as is all related garments and team spirit items. How would the union and each respective team owner if a scheduled game had only the players and those on the payroll there to watch it? What message would networks receive and send to the union if viewers failed to watch? Sponsors who advertise would also be screaming and pulling their funds….A union is a serious waste of freedom.
Report Post »justice
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:12amMaybe they will be considered to big to fail. GO UNIONS…Get rid of the unions players, and begin to play real football. Remember those days.
Report Post »whitaker
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:10amThey paid millions and are complaining about not geting healthcare???
Report Post »INTHEBEGININGGOD
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:01amCopied from above: for a little bit.
It also said the league threatened to cancel the players’ health insurance.
The union said it is filing a grievance to contest a cancellation of health insurance, citing a section of the collective bargaining agreement that states: “Players will continue to receive the benefits provided in this article through the end of the Plan Year in which they are released or otherwise sever employment.”
Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light, one of the team’s player representatives, said players understand the nature of the business but the threat to cancel health insurance is different.
“You‘re going to cancel somebody’s health insurance and maybe they‘ve got a baby that’s due in the offseason?” he said. “Yeah, it gets personal.”
Aiello said that there would be no interruption of health care, because of the federal COBRA law that allows employees to continue coverage at their own expense.
OK boy‘s maybe you’ll know how us little people feel like making our measley 40 45, maybe 50 thousand dollars a year with some luck with overtime so we can maybe buy season tickets or go to a few Home Games so we can let you ride in your maxed out car’s. You need them big salaries so you can keep all your girl friend‘s so you can send them picture’s of your naked bodies over the internet, maybe so you all can pay those big time lawyer’s to keep you out of jail for having illeagle substance or guns out of state where us little people would have to go to jail. Maybe this is the first time half of you guy’s ever heard of COBRA, ask any working stiff and I would bet they know. Ever see the movie The REPLACEMENTS. Bring um ON.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 6:45amAnd this is why I can’t watch pro sports anymore with the exception of Hockey. But even Hockey players are no more than greedy bastards! We take these football, basketball and baseball players out of the ghetto, put them in top schools, coaches fix their grades and then we give them millions of dollars and make them superstars. And this is the thank you we get?
Report Post »88allin
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 4:40amFor those who may not follow the NFL closely , the aforementioned head of the NFL Players Union is Demaurice Smith . Mr Smith used to work in Washington for “Organizing for America” and has close personal ties to the Obama administration . Good luck making a deal with this man owners and NFL leadership .
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 6:51amOh great! I really wish I hadn’t read that!
Report Post »CaptnJackBthe1
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 8:00amThat you Glenn???
Report Post »FLDeb
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 4:22amUnions have been corrupt for as long as I can remember. I always associated them right up there with the mafia. They do not need to speak for me – my mouth works quite well thank you ever so much. The concept was just once upon a time – but they were taken over by very corrupt, greedy people. Look at almost EVERY profession they have forced themselves on. Just try to fire a lazy do nothing union employee. Look what they did to the auto industry!!!!!! Grew up in MI – sorry, no one will ever convince me otherwise, the unions brought that state down. If you are laid off from one of the auto plants the unions worked out such a great deal as to make the auto industry pay you the difference from your unemployment check so you can sit at home on your fat aaaaa and watch football with full pay!! Isn’t that special?
No one could make me sign up with a union and until more people start fighting these buzzards the economy will only get worse.
Report Post »addie
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 4:08amIf the players had half a brain, they would tell the union to screw and work directly with the owners and agents. Otherwise I see a 2011 season with replacements and how exactly does that show the unions helped the players?. Mark my words, there will be a 2011 season, just may not be with the teams we have today. Anyone know if Keanu will be around? Something tells me the replacements and scabs will be a much better game to watch than the current wimps and drama queens. Bring back real football.
Report Post »spendthrift
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 3:47amTHE ROUND- ABOUT THEORY:
Obama=Unions
Unions=Corruption
Corruption=Democrats
Democrats=Obama
Obama=Corruption
Please Correct me if for sake that I am Wrong?
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 6:47amLooks like you got it figured out to me!
Report Post »squeaker
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 3:11amthis must be the “pork skin” spending cuts…
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 3:00amLeave it to the union to use scare tactics and lies in their letter. I guess what an NFL union says about the players is that they are too stupid to deal with the owners themselves so they need to waste their money paying a “has been” player to conduct negotiations. I would think it would benefit players if each team negotiated its own contract with the owner. It’s a business, but don’t they always talk about being a family? Unions need to go away.
Report Post »QuietRiot
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:23amThe slightest breeze can start an avalanche ….. most people care more about football and their teams than they do America. You will fly your flag of team patronage on your car or have a magnet of it attached to its ass end. Do you fly the American Flag at home or on a sticker of a flag or magnet on your car? Where will you be Joe Sit your lazy ass on the couch American and watch football like life depended on it when its gone. What will you do next year when the avalanche starts and all you care about is football and your fall winter saviour is not their .. Precious football…. Wake The “F” up America…. Yeah I know all about football so all you haters can shut up Signed a former “Canton” boy. Most of you can tell me who and when got what touchdown 300 or some other statistic than can tell me how deep the rabbit hole of this nations test that is coming , how deep it can really go. Do the people that drive the so called green cars or drive the Obama 08 sticker around have a Pittsburgh Steelers sticker to or and football team for that matter? You are being entertained and you still have your bread …..what would happen if one or both were limited or taken away……
Oh, and a “Go Team” …..not…..
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:44pmEasy, QUIETRIOT. I can hear your heart thumping here in Michigan.
(Just a little friendly advice!) Someone here talked me “down from the tower” a day or two ago, and I thought I’d “pay it forward.
Merry Christmas
Steve
Report Post »QuietRiot
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 11:49pmSteverino
I’d “pay it forward. I appreciate the thought, but I will gladly take the spot at the top of the watch tower….. Freedom isn’t free and can be taken out from under you when you are at a lower point of viewing. The entire area needs to be watched from a higher vantage point. Every day I am climbing higher in knowledge and also watching this govt. do as it dam pleases such as website confiscation.
Wanting to push the fairness doctrine and other items of their interest, How about the guy on the floor the other day complaining about how much Glenn and Rush make…Why dont we see how much Nancy has made since being in office or Mr Reid or even People on the Right side of the isle. Like I said people care more about sports than their own country in many cases.
Stay entertained America with whats going on with Brittany and Lindsey and the walkout talks and other foolish things. Never mind the dudes behind the curtains making the plans and flipping the switches to keep you entertained. Dont pay attension to the price of food going up gas and so on ….
Are you looking for the top down bottom up that is being made behind the curtains ?
Your own govt is in on making it happen, with some kingpins that weren’t elected to office and have an agenda to gut this nation because they despise it so much including private actors and corporations.
Nothing but a power grab and money grab at the expense of your back labor and your personal feedoms. I would rather die fighting for freedom than to live without it, I am neither a King or a Pawn in this game, I am an American that will fight for it to remain America violence is not the answer but sometimes you have to eliminate the the cancer agressively.
Merry Christmas
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:18amBring it on, I’m ready and just turned 49. Seahawks are you listening, you guys suck enough that I would be an improvement.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:16amLet the millionaires leave and bring on the replacements oh yeah since no HUGE paychecks lower the damn ticket costs too!!!!
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 6:48amYou ain’t kidding man. I would love to go to more Falcons games, but my God. I need to take out a loan every time I go! At least our hockey team sucks so I can still go cheap!
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:06amWill Obama demonize greedy NFL players… That’s the question…
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:45amHe can’t demonize the players…most of them are black. Oh I’m sorry. Did I just introduce race into the argument. DAMN STRAIGHT!! Lock them all out until they are broke, have to hock their bling and cars and end up standing in line like the Obama followers in Atlanta. Maybe then they’ll appreciate what they have.
Report Post »avgconservative
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:05amWait a minute! If someone’s wife is having a baby, even with complications, it’s going to be way less than a “planting the quarterback” fine!
unions suck… the screw up everything they touch.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:33amI LOVE football, would hate to not have it next season. Stupid Unions.
Report Post »Buck Ofama
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:07amI love football, too. But I cannot feel sorry for millionaires on strike. There’s just something wrong with that picture.
Report Post »TJexcite
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:04amThe people that where to be taxes under Obama tax increase all play football yet they are not the evil ones. Only the wall street traders are the evil straw man millionaires.
It will be fun that the AFL-CIO will represent millionaires football players. Maybe they can do what they did to the steel industry and outsource football players at 1/800th the pay. It would be fun to see millionaires players in a picket line wanting more money when the little people have to line up in a soup line for a cup of warm broth.
Report Post »Slaynfire
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:57amNo season in 2011 and like baseball and hockey, I will no longer watch. I will take my money and go spend it somewhere else. I am tired of the whiners in pro sports on both sides of the game. I know lets make it an experiment of socialism/communism and then we can count down the days to its implosion. We can post the quotes from the players on how its not fair. I am sure players like ochocinco and other loud mouthed players will give some great lines for the media to post with great hypocrisy. You why is there no affirmative action in sports? I don’t see very many Japanese players in football. Does that mean the NFL is racist?
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:48amcome on now,,,,don’t be like that. Do you know how much insurance costs for a Farari??
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 2:36amNo kidding, affirmative action in pro sports? The few times I watch it, I‘m amazed when it’s a white guy. I think we should lobby for this, the white guy is at a disadvantage and discriminated against in athletics. We want equal representation according to the population! Then we want reparations for past discrimination, I’ll settle for a million. I remember them talking about black coaches in the NFL or the lack thereof, holy crap are they serious? African Americans are like 70% of the NFL and they’re worried about that!
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:38pmI’ve always felt that applying affirmative action to professional sports would be the clearest demonstration of its utter stupidity and inefficiency. Perhaps the NFC could apply it, while the AFC wouldn’t. That would make the whole AA’s results as plain as the nose on your face.
Meritocracy, anyone?
Steve
Report Post »Quad-rip-legic
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:48amthey make too much money anyway
Report Post »brer rabbit
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:47amAnother union screwing up this country! But when you make millions of dollars a year why the hell would you be conserned with health insurance. To NFL players IF YOU SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY IN A YEAR YOU DESERVE TO BE BROKE!
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:42amSave pay…ya think?
Report Post »CaptnJackBthe1
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:58am2011 is shaping up to be a bad year for the Bentley dealers.
Report Post »shane2813
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 12:42amLeave it up to the unions to screw football up.
Report Post »LuvThisCntry
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:01amPlayers in the NFL are considered self-employed, aren’t they? I am self-employed and I had to pay for my own health insurance and believe me, I am not paid millions like the players. I am not whining about having to pay for my own health care, so why should they expect health care to be paid for? If the Unions and players do not back off and not play for season 2011, I believe that all of us fans will forget football very quickly for that year. Plus, with high ticket cost as they are now in a bad economy, they are in no position to bargain. I personally have dropped my NFL Sunday ticket to cut my expenditure. Stop being a baby and man up to get your own health insurance.
Report Post »101
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:24amYa think “spooky Dude” is behind it? You know the NFL being union an all!
Prepare for 2011 is going to be tuff on all of us!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:44amLook for another congress bailout to come down the line unless the right is able to stop it. Or Obama will simply nationalize the NFL and have a ‘football czar’ regulate and run it into the ground like all of the other czars across the nation.
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:50am“New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain said he was already squirreling away his savings in case of a lockout. ”
Okay, this is straight up funny / scary. “Squirreling away his savings”. Yeah. So am I. Though I’m pretty sure that my squirreling is not quite the same.
If I’m not mistaken, the rookie minimum is about $250k a year. I DO NOT begrudge these guys their salaries, but let’s get real – find a verb other than “squirreling”.
And a union is necessary why? They all have agents, don’t they?
Please. Just. Please.
Steve
http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
Report Post »TNT1
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:51amMonkey ears will be there to bail out the players
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 5:07am@101
Spooky Dude is most likely not behind it; yet figure if it applies to his or his cronies gameplan they will find a means to exploit it. Remember, it only takes the smallest spark to begin the largest of fires, and we do not know what could be the beginnings of a firestorm used to endanger the nation.
Report Post »Cliff
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 5:24amWhen the first baseball strike happened I was really to young to understand… when they had the second strike I vowed to never buy anything about baseball ever again… so now here comes football to join my ranks of uselessness!!!
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 5:43amIf they strike, I will do what I did with Baseball..I haven’t been to another game…NEVER!
Report Post »Greed plain and simple…
WestOfThePecos
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 6:11amLove High School and College Football. That’s enough.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 7:31amI hope for the sake of sanity and the culture as a whole that one day Unions will go the way of the dinosaurs….In my opinion, the NFL has become a thug sport just like the NBA. Not fit to watch anymore. No team concept…just every man for himself. LQQK at me…LQQk at me.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 8:02amWell come on people the best way to fight the unions BOYCOTT THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEASON, plain and simple, fans dont show up and fill the seats and local TV coverage suffers also, its all a ripple effect. Fans need to take a stand and force NFL/NFLPA act now and not later. Theres more than one way to SKIN a CAT.
Report Post »Fletch
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 8:29amBack in the day they played for the glory
This should be mandatory reading for all professional present day athelets….
It belonged to a lady whose grandfather played for the Packers in 1944. He was signed, as you will see, by Curly Lambeau.
http://www.bigpinekey.com/Video_Sound/Scan.pdf
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 8:44amHhmmm !! Wonder what that will do to the economy.. Just sayin….
easyed598
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 9:23amI remember the 87 strike- It wasn`t the same quality of football that was played but it gave fans a look at players(strikebreakers) who would have never played in the NFL. It was a interesting season. As far as NFL players losing their health insurance–All players make at least $300,000/year so can`t really shed a tear if they have to pay their own medical bills. Maybe Obamacare will help these poor souls.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 9:36amSTEVERINO…The word “squirreling” is all a matter of context. I know it doen’t seem to apply in this situation if you picutre a thrifty rodent putting nuts into a tree. However, try picturing an over-paid prima donna shoving gold chains into the back of his Escalade….I think that will work better for ya…lol
Also, this is another example of how unions are slowly ruining America……good thing I prefer college football
Merry Christmas
Report Post »Charbet
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 9:39amWhy not football too? The unions are screwing everything they can. Unions should be abolished.
Report Post »TNT1
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 10:19amThe whole sports scene has been corrupted.By tv advertising,corporateAmerica owners,agents it’s all BS. And we the people have allowed it.Fans have been supporting the huge salaries by paying the ridiculous prices for tickets,soveneirs and such.You want to send them a signal QUIT supporting the outrageous prices.NUDGES.When asked why I don’t watch MLB anymore my response is HATE THE PROFESSION LOVE THE GAME.
Report Post »enj1997
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 10:37amI‘ll forget the NFL just like I did the MLB if they don’t play. I was a huge Mets fan now I couldn’t tell you a single players name on the team.
Report Post »ME
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 10:39amThe best part is the NFL is a 501(c)(6) tax exempt business league.. The players do pay taxes but not the NFL. There is a reason its on Sundays:) It’s the biggest followed by the NBA and MLB and NHL not sure about the order.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:15pmSame thing the unions want to do with cops and fire fighters. Funny how the cops and firefighters want no part of the unions but Obama is pushing for his favorite union to be able to organize them against their wishes.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:20pmLet them strike. I could care less. Bunch of overpaid prima donas. Pro ball is just like high finance. Overpaid players. I have not watche a pro any thing in over 30 years. It is not a sport. It is a business. Why is it the taxpayers have to provide the stadium for them to make all that money?
Report Post »AlaskaRick
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 1:49pmYou have got to be kidding, they go to congress? These guys don’t save a portion of their millions or hundreds of thousands they make for playing a game. A game I love. I wonder how many will put in for government unemployment checks?
Report Post »americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 3:20pmThis is what unions are doing! They get a hold of the peoples money that they supposedly represent and try to figure out a way that they can take even more money from them and the owners, until they run it into the ground. It’s called very simply, “GREED”! and “LAZYNESS”!
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 5, 2010 at 10:57pmThe most compelling evidence that next fall is gonna be boring so far.
:-/
Report Post »