Work stoppage likely

[antdrewjosh]

Eric Winston: Don't care if NFL 'dies out in 20 years' because of work stoppage
2:04 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
NFL Players Association president Eric Winston agreed with DeMaurice Smith's recent comments that a work stoppage in 2021 is likely, given the current relationship between the union and the league.

But Winston took it a step further Monday in an interview with WCPO in Cincinnati, suggesting that players shouldn't care that a strike or lockout "might kill the goose that laid the golden egg."

"Honestly I don't care and I don't think the guys in this locker room care whether [the NFL] is going to be around in 20 years, because none of us are going to be playing," Winston, an offensive tackle for the Bengals, told WCPO. "So if these guys [the owners] want to own for a long time, then they can own for a long time. But another work stoppage might kill the golden goose."

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Source: Goodell close to extension through '24
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is close to an agreement on a new five-year extension that runs through 2024. While a deal is likely to be completed, there are still issues to work out because talks have not progressed as expected.
Smith, the union's executive director, said last week that "the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout is almost a virtual certainty."

The NFL's current collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire in 2021, was finalized after a 132-day lockout in 2011.

Winston, 33, said that the union is preparing its players for another prolonged labor dispute but emphasized that the long-term health of the NFL is not a concern of his.

"I'm certainly not worried about it," he said. "I'm not going to be around that long. I don't care if even if there are rookies in here -- they're not going to be playing that long.

"So if this thing dies out in 20 years, it dies out in 20 years. That's not really my concern, and I don't think it's any of these players' concern in here either."

Smith, when asked about Winston's comments during an interview Tuesday with ESPN's Outside The Lines, said the veteran offensive lineman is "a person who understands the frame and business of football."

"The owners locked us out the last time," Smith said. "They took the decision to make sure that people didn't have a place to work. They cut off the insurance to our families. They wanted to force an 18-game schedule. What are you supposed to do? Fight back, right?"

Winston is a 12-year veteran and has been the NFLPA's president since March 2014. He acknowledged that there are "always going to be issues between labor and management" but also said that a work stoppage will be the "inevitable outcome" unless serious progress is made in negotiations.

The NFLPA has clashed in recent years with the NFL over player discipline in such high-profile cases as Adrian Peterson's suspension for child abuse, Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension and, most recently, Ezekiel Elliott's suspension for alleged domestic violence.

Winston also was asked Monday why he thinks fans tend to side with ownership in labor disputes.

"My personal theory is [fans] think they have a stake in the team," he said. "I was as blindsided by it probably as anybody [in 2011]. ... They don't look at the issues the way we look at issues -- wages, hours, working conditions and health and safety. You could talk about the same thing in a coal miners' union meeting as we do in our meetings.

"I think fans look at the team and say that that's their team -- they have an ownership in that. That's why you always hear fans say 'Oh, the salary cap,' and they think they're kinda the general managers. Obviously fantasy football and things like that play into it."

 

[slashsteel]

I'll probably be dead by then.

 

[Coach]

NFL lock outs are very hard for the players to organize.

For openers, the careers are short and sitting out a year could mean 25% of more of your earnings if you play for the average four years.

Too much to make up even if the cap were to go up to say 10-15%, which it won't. A lock out only benefits the guys earning big bucks on the 2nd or 3rd contracts.

I despise the union. They would be better served to allocate more funds for players after their careers are over. I think 10% of each player's salary should go into a retirement fund to be paid out after they retire.

70% of those in the NFL have the net worth of the average man 5 years removed from the game.

 

[slashsteel]

think 10% of each player's salary should go into a retirement fund to be paid out after they retire.

pretty sure a NFL player can set up a additional retirement fund,allocating 10%

 

[Steelr4evr]

Everyone is replaceable. I personally think pro sports in general needs knocked down a few pegs. The world will go on if the NFL is off tv for a year. I stopped watching baseball for good after their last strike and haven't looked back since.

 

[Stryker]

That's some serious prognostication if he's saying there will definitely be a lockout in 2021. It's 5 freakin seasons from now!!!

Pump the brakes Nostradamus...

 

[Hines57]

He's right when he says a chunk of the players won't be playing then. The players on their rookie contracts will be right at the cusp of getting their 2nd deals though. This hurts the younger crowd more than established veterans.

Its unclear what exactly the league wants. Expanded regular season. Expanded post season. All this goes against player safety and the wear and tear that they have been trying to protect the players from. I'd like to see a 2nd bye week but not with additional games added. I feel the NFL product is good and doesn't need fixed or changed. The CBA between players and owners, well as a fan I know both sides have to do their thing to protect their own interests. Will prepare for no football in 2021 or a shortened season.

 

[madinsomniac]

There has never been more greedy selfish stupid idiots in a room than when the Nfl players union and league try to reach a deal... they shoild meet in guam so that in the off chance NK nukes it, at least one good thing would come of it....dumbasses...

 

[AggieSteel]

I hope they strike, personally. The owners could easily provide a higher slice of the revenue pie, more guaranteed money in contracts, less disciplinary power in the hands of the Fuhrer, better post-retirement benefits, etc. The current CBA is a horrible deal for players, especially when compared to other leagues. Yes there are more players to pay in the NFL, so it's hard to make the numbers look good in comparison to the NBA or MLB. But football players do take on far more risk to their health than any of those other sports, with somehow LESS guaranteed money. Their share of revenue, as well as guaranteed money, needs to go up

 

[Litos]

hope they go for guaranteed contracts, even if it reduces or stalls the cap some

 

[Ike Kelly]

Yet, some forget only one team voted against the last CBA....yep, Pittsburgh.


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[Fuzzy Dunlop]

I hope they strike, personally. The owners could easily provide a higher slice of the revenue pie, more guaranteed money in contracts, less disciplinary power in the hands of the Fuhrer, better post-retirement benefits, etc. The current CBA is a horrible deal for players, especially when compared to other leagues. Yes there are more players to pay in the NFL, so it's hard to make the numbers look good in comparison to the NBA or MLB. But football players do take on far more risk to their health than any of those other sports, with somehow LESS guaranteed money. Their share of revenue, as well as guaranteed money, needs to go up

Totally agree, especially the bolded. We watch for the players. Anyone remember the replacement players? (87?)

 

[steelhurt]

Spoken like a true selfish clueless prick. Doesn't give a damn about the game, the fans or future players. Take all you can get and guck the next guy. Not my problem man!
Most of these mental midgets would be working low paying jobs if working at all if it weren't for the game and could only dream of the kind of money they are making.
They don't take advantage of the opportunity to get a great education because they have one objective. Make me some of that money the NFL is paying. Then most are broke within a few years out of the league. I'm tired of it all.
Eventually like all good things, it will be ruined and they have no one to blame but themselves.


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[MTC]

Spoken like a true selfish clueless prick. Doesn't give a damn about the game, the fans or future players. Take all you can get and guck the next guy. Not my problem man!
Most of these mental midgets would be working low paying jobs if working at all if it weren't for the game and could only dream of the kind of money they are making.
They don't take advantage of the opportunity to get a great education because they have one objective. Make me some of that money the NFL is paying. Then most are broke within a few years out of the league. I'm tired of it all.
Eventually like all good things, it will be ruined and they have no one to blame but themselves.


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Kinda irked that he threw shade at the fans.
What's he blabbering about working conditions? From a facility/healthcare standpoint, pro athletes have it made.
From playing through injuries? Understandable, it's a brutal sport. But these guys know what they sign up for.

Sadly, I think the NFL will run it's course. It seems it loses it's touch every season now

 

[BLITZ]

Yeah Eric why should you care if the NFL is around in 20 years. It has only given you the opportunity to live a life that 99% of people never will be able too.

 

[madinsomniac]

hope they go for guaranteed contracts, even if it reduces or stalls the cap some

Guaranteed contracts and larger rosters... though they are too greedy for the latter even if it will extend a few careers

 

[steelbush]

There will always be players willing to play (scabs) for less money because they want to be a professional athlete. The quality of play will definitely decline but I don't think they would have a problem finding players.

 

[ark steel]

There will always be players willing to play (scabs) for less money because they want to be a professional athlete. The quality of play will definitely decline but I don't think they would have a problem finding players.

and people will still watch. Shoot, without overpaid prima donna's maybe more people would watch.

 

[steelhurt]

I'm telling you Ark, I never thought I'd ever feel this way after loving this game for over 50 plus years but I'm sick of it.
I would look forward to the weekend games especially the Steelers but now, it's a struggle. The only games I watch are the Steelers now and that's even getting harder to do. Never,ever thought I'd feel this way.
A bunch of selfish and ungrateful players where it's all about them.



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[AggieSteel]

A bunch of selfish and ungrateful players where it's all about them.

I completely disagree with this assessment. The NFL brings in more revenue than any other league, but for players it's split across a much larger number of players than any other league so their contracts are miniscule in comparison, the players put themselves through incredibly harsh physical risks to their long term (and short term) health, the players have on average incredibly short careers so the most NFL players have the net worth of ordinary Americans within 5 years of leaving the game, etc. You see the guys with big contracts and long careers and think "greed" but that's not most guys, and you refuse to acknowledge who is sitting on the other side of the table. You have 32 owners who have each accumulated more wealth in their lives than any NFL player ever will arguing over percentages of the revenue pie with the entire players union (2,166 members), many of whom will never be "rich" the way you normally associate with these players.

These players are FAR from greedy. They are legitimately getting a raw deal from these owners, who are some of the wealthiest men on the planet but fighting tooth and nail over percentages with these people who put their bodies on the line to entertain us every weekend. How you can look at this equation and assign selfishness and greed to the PLAYERS here - I have no idea. I think it's an incredibly short-sighted point of view and that NFL owners are some of the greediest humans walking the earth

 

[steelhurt]

Aggie, then I say to that, do something else with your life's work. No one is forcing any one player to play in the NFL. They could never, ever make the money they're making in the real world.
The owners; well it's their game and you play by their rules. They are the billionaires that supply the multi million dollar contracts.
If you don't like their rules then do something else. Sure their making tons of money and more power to them. It's not like these players are getting chump change.
There will always be s wide margin between player salaries and what the owners revenue is. These players have the right to become free agents and get the highest contract they can. Look at the signing bonuses. They should be able to be set up for life.
If you think you're being taken advantage of and can do better, then move on.



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[ark steel]

Winston, 33, said that the union is preparing its players for another prolonged labor dispute but emphasized that the long-term health of the NFL is not a concern of his.

"I'm certainly not worried about it," he said. "I'm not going to be around that long. I don't care if even if there are rookies in here -- they're not going to be playing that long.

"So if this thing dies out in 20 years, it dies out in 20 years. That's not really my concern, and I don't think it's any of these players' concern in here either."

Aggie: This is why I feel that way about the players. The ones that benefit the most will not be the rank and file players, it will be the big names who already have bigger contracts.

I don't disagree that they should ask for more money to be allocated to players. The amount can be argued about from here to eternity and I would argue for a lower increase over higher, but a lot of that would depend upon how that is allocated. I don't want it allocated just to a higher salary cap that benefits different millionaires. The owners are taking financial risks just like every other employer. They could be making billions elsewhere.

I would be more concerned that the union seems to be intent on brining the NFL to its knees to show them who is boss and, as the above statement shows, they don't care if they destroy it, based upon the statement above. What happens to the rank-and-file players then? Maybe, that is just sabre rattling, though.

The owners are greedy and the top tier athletes are greedy. I don't know how anyone could argue differently. The difference, to me, is that the owners can take their money and make millions elsewhere. Maybe, not quite as much, maybe more, who knows. The athletes, what are they going to do?

The bigger issues in the CBA, to me, is the power the Commissioner has, which seems to be used arbitrarily, and allocations to post-football health issues.

 

[ark steel]

I'm telling you Ark, I never thought I'd ever feel this way after loving this game for over 50 plus years but I'm sick of it.
I would look forward to the weekend games especially the Steelers but now, it's a struggle. The only games I watch are the Steelers now and that's even getting harder to do. Never,ever thought I'd feel this way.
A bunch of selfish and ungrateful players where it's all about them.

I'm with you, but I wonder how much of my apathy is getting older versus the BS that goes on in the NFL, from The Rog, constant commercials, to the "protests", to contract arguments to CBA stuff.

People say college football doesn't have these issues, but it, does, really, just to different extents and has others. I quit watching that almost completely years ago, too. If I can catch an Arkansas or LSU game on, I will watch it, but I do not make plans to be in front of the TV for them.

 

[antdrewjosh]

I really hate the arguement that the players should just be happy. No one is paying to see the owners. If the sport is generating revenue like it is the players deserve their share.

 

[mdk2]

Never liked Eric Winston. Seems like a real douche and some of those comments he made about the future of the game are a little much.


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