United they stand.
By Kirby Lee, US Presswire
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith addressed roughly 800 agents at the scouting combine on Friday.
By Kirby Lee, US Presswire
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith addressed roughly 800 agents at the scouting combine on Friday.
That was the undeniable message coming from the NFL Players Association on Friday, where approximately 800 agents met during the NFL's annual scouting combine and heard union chief DeMaurice Smith reiterate his expectation that the league will institute a lockout after the collective bargaining agreement expires on Thursday night.
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Smith addressed agents for nearly two hours, and according to those in the large ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center, he energized the group.
Yet after seven days of bargaining sessions ended Thursday before a federal mediator, Smith did not report any progress towards reaching a deal. Mediator George Cohen urged the sides to assess their positions over the weekend, and scheduled another bargaining session at his Washington, D.C. office on Tuesday ? a day before NFL owners will gather for two days of meetings in Chantilly, Va.
"Obviously, I'm not going to talk about the sessions that we have had (with the NFL), and the sessions that we'll continue to have next week," Smith told reporters during a break in the day-long agents meeting. "The players want to get a deal done. Our hope is that we can reach a resolution as quickly as possible."
"I work for 1,800 guys who want to play football, and the fans across the country have made it abundantly clear that they want to continue seeing football. I know the businesses in America, the people who rely on football for things other than entertainment, want football to continue. We're right there with them, side by side."
Before Smith delivered his statement, the union presented four of the most powerful NFL agents ?�Tom Condon, Drew Rosenhaus, Ben Dogra and Joel Segal ? to the media in a show of solidarity.
The agents, who compete for clients, declared that they are unified in supporting the union during the labor crisis.
"The players are in full support of the union," said Segal, who represents about 60 NFL players, including Philadelphia Eagles star Michael Vick. "The players are prepared."
The solidarity of the players could be put to the ultimate test in the coming months, if the lockout the union expects ? but could try to block by decertifying and filing an antitrust lawsuit ? shuts down the sport for a significant amount of time.
The biggest sticking point in negotiations remains determining the players' share of revenues. Under the existing CBA, players receive nearly 60% of revenues after $1 billion is credited to owners for costs. Owners have asked for an additional $1 billion in credits in a new CBA, which the union contends is an 18% rollback.
Agents, though, praise the union for preparing players for a lockout during the two years under Smith's direction.
"The players association has done a real good job educating the players," said Condon, whose stable of star clients includes Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. "I think they're well-versed on the issues, and I get a sense of calm from our players. I know they're not happy that free agency could be postponed for a number of months, until whenever the thing is resolved. But I think they understand that you have to go through this process."
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