More NFL Mess

Last Friday the NFL Players Association (the NFL players union) decertified effectively closing negotiations and resulting in the current lockout of players from NFL facilities. News up to that point stated that the NFL had been active in providing new offers while the “union” demanded “the books” on the financial specifics of all NFL teams as a condition of continued negotiations. The decertification of the “union” was immediately followed by a class action lawsuit attempting to disallow the lockout led by popular NFL players Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Additionally, the “union” is actively discouraging this year’s draft class from attending NFL draft festivities.

The timing of the lawsuit, being announced at the same time as decertification and the show of the lead plaintiffs proves that the “union” is not interested in negotiations. They want to force the NFL to do their bidding by forming public opinion and playing on the sympathies of the court system. Taking a page from actual unions, they are forming a virtual picket line and attempting to intimidate future players from participating in an event that they have earned invitation to and may have been looking forward to for many years, the NFL draft.

A popular player, Adrian Peterson wasn’t being helpful to the “union” when he made incredibly short sighted comments in an interview on Yahoo sports:

Peterson called the NFL’s arrangement with his players "modern-day slavery" and a "rip-off." He added that players "are getting robbed"

What a mess. Peterson can attempt to walk back his comments but he said what he said and he comes off very badly as a result. Perhaps he did not mean for what he said to be made public but if it is what he truly thinks then it’s perfectly reasonable for it to be out there. His statements create a line where other players who desire to can choose to agree or disagree. As a statement it really demonstrates Peterson’s understanding, or lack thereof, of slavery.

Will the NFLPA’s tactics be successful? It seems likely as most of the sports media is complicit in force-feeding the public the “union” good, fat cat owners bad narrative. The “union’s” actions are very cynical and should be hurting their image but are being shielded by this narrative. Without the owners there would be no NFL and without the players there would be no league either but the league had to be there first for players to play. Millionaires comparing themselves to slaves demonstrate a stark separation from reality and excusing silly behavior because the owners are wealthier is a red herring argument without merit. For me personally the antics of the NFLPA and its unreasonable demands (for financial specifics) drown out their reasonable demands (not wanting an 18 game season). The owners are not sympathetic but at least seem to be acting in good faith while attempting to negotiate instead of the theatrics of the other side.