The NFLPA
 

I know this is going to be quite an unpopular thread and perspective but its reality......

The NFLPA in my opinion has damaged more things than people are giving them credit for.

A few points for discussion:
Goodells power - Was granted to him by the NFLPA when they signed the CBA and agreed to him being both Judge, Jury, and Appellate. The Player Representative AGREED to this. Regardless of what level Goodell has taken it to, its bad business from the start. The NFLPA made him and granted him power of dictator. Not many people would refrain from using complete power GRANTED to him.

Law Suit over the punishment for uncapped season - The NFLPA signed and agreed to that punishment. "Now" they have issue with it. They AGREED to it in signature.

I have never been a fan of DeMaurice Smith, I actually do not care for him at all. From the first tiem I heard/saw him speak my impression was of someone quick to open his mouth, and have just never liked his message.

On the first point, I remember reading something Godell said related to that. When he was questioned about his authority he said thats what he wanted and he wasn't going to back down from that.

The barganing going back and forth, who knows what the NFLPA got for giving him that power. I am with you about the NFLPA. They play the marter but in reality, they knew exactly what was going on.

I hear you on the "not going to back down"...

Ever heard someone in a negotiation say I demand "x".. if you'll give it to me, if not i'm cool. Both partys go into a negotiation with a list of Musts, needs, and wants... When it gets to mediation they all become sacrificial, depending (as you pointed out) on what i am getting to be flexible.

That authority item I understand. Reason being is because as Commissioner/CEO he has absolute responsibility and liability for what happens under his watch. The caveat to that is he made a poor decision, I would want ABSOLUTE power and authority also, however..... I would not want to be the appellate. Let someone else hear the appeals, "just in case" i made a bad decision, if it gets overturned.. and turns out bad, some other a-hole get all the blame. And I get an "I told ya so" moment.

The NFL is quite an odd situation, there is not just the Company and the players (union) with sides..... Its three way, there is the League, the players (NFLPA), and the owners. They all have skin in the game and they play off of each other.

Hines Ward brought this point up about giving RG too much authority.
He and others tried to push the issue during the CBA but they could not get support.

I have empathy for the players, I know what it's like trying to get what you want or deserve. On the other hand, I'm not sympathetic towards people who just give up. If they wanted a more fair relationship with the NFL then they should have hunkered down and fought for it. Now we have players saying it's not fair. We'll no s!@#t.

I agree with what you're saying. but i think that the players whose livelihoods depend on those weekly checks during the season were the ones who swayed them from continuing to fight it. They were getting restless and I think the NFLPA panicked because they didn't want a lot of players turning on the union for dragging it out....but I agree with you tho.....they should have fought harder for it... the owners would have cracked believe me....they want to make their money just as much if not more than the players do.

Which is why NOW is the perfect time for a strike. If ever there was a time when players were collectively feeling the pinch of an all-powerful Roger Goodell, NOW is that time.

STRIKE!!!!

...meanwhile, the lawsuits advance through the court system!

i hope that all these law suites effect more than the caps and slander. deep down i am hoping the players have more say in rule changes. i would love to see the defenses in the nfl to play defense again.

stop this points for ratings push the nfl has under taken for the past 20 years. it is killing the game

I couldn't agree more hagan. The Steel Curtain, The Doomsday Defense, The Orange Crush, The Bears, The Dome Patrol.
Back in the day there were defenders prowling the field who if you even thought about crossing the middle it hurt.

I used to hate Gene Upshaw. I hate De Smith more. He's a douchebag IMO. Goodell is too for that matter. The many problems facing the league right now falls on both their shoulders. Nobody takes a common sense appeoach to anything. I hope they are both replaced by sensible men in the near future, but I'm not holding my breath.