It's been over six years since the NFL had to deal with a work stoppage of any sort, and unfortunately for the league, that's a streak that could be coming to an end soon, according to DeMaurice Smith.
Smith, who serves as the executive director of the NFLPA, believes there's going to be a work stoppage after the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires following the 2020 season.
"I think the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout in [2021] is almost a virtual certainty," Smith said this week during an interview with MMQB.com.
The last time the NFL had to cancel games due to a work stoppage came in 1987. This time around, Smith isn't quite sure yet if a work stoppage would lead to any canceled games, but he didn't sound optimistic.
"I don't know. Let's look at our history," Smith said.
The problem with negotiating a new CBA is that it sounds like the players don't really trust the owners right now.
"The owners do a deal in 2006 and opt out in 2008. We do a deal in 2011 with no opt outs because we like the benefits under the current deal and we didn't want to give the owners an opportunity to opt out and take back the games that we currently have," Smith said. "If there was no renegotiating of the collective bargaining agreement and we reach 2021, there is no uncapped year. The last time we went through it, we found out that the owners lied and cheated about the uncapped year, so why would I do that again?"
The seeds for the 2011 lockout were planted in 2008 when the NFL's 32 owners voted to opt out of a CBA that was supposed to run through 2012. When the league opted out, that meant an early end to the 2006 CBA agreement and left the league with an uncapped salary year in 2010.
According to Smith, the owners "colluded with each other" so that the players wouldn't be able to take advantage of the uncapped year.
"All the mutual benefits that were supposed to happened as result of the opt out didn't happen last time," Smith said. "Owners colluded with each other and we found out that they colluded with each other. All of the bad things that went to the players happened and none of the bad things that went to the owners happened. So we have a new deal that if it doesn't get fixed, you go into a certain Armageddon."
What this all means is that Smith is ready to take the NFLPA to battle with the NFL over the new CBA. The NFLPA is taking the possibility of a work stoppage so seriously that it warned players in May to start saving money.
If a work stoppage does happen, it wouldn't start for at least four more seasons. The current CBA runs through the 2020 season, which means any potential work stoppage wouldn't take place until the 2021 season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BossChief:
Sorry, I’m not anywhere near as big of a fan of Sammy Watkins as others here are. He’s ultra talented, but has motivation problems and decides when to turn on his switch and when to just put it on autopilot. After week 1, he kinda disappeared till the playoffs. After winning the Super Bowl, he started talking about taking a year off or sitting out till camp.
I’d rather spend that kind of $ on players that bring max effort every play.
This is the best WR class in quite some time. 55 WRs were invited to the combine. I’d rather use that money on a stud corner or linebacker, TBH.
he didnt talk about sitting out a year after the SB... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
I was given Tramadol at 1 point, it did jack and shit for me after surgery...oxycodone just makes me tired. But Pain meds really don't have much affect on me to be honest.
Same here. Doesn’t matter if it is tramadol, oxy, or Advil it all has the same level of pain relief for me.
Fentanyl is a completely different story. That really works but the relief is short lived. [Reply]
I hope they do strike. The 17th game I don't like. I don't like 7 teams instead of 6, and I hate hate hate hate hate hate that they are eliminating one of the byes. That means we wouldn't have had a bye this year in the AFC. You rely on that to help propel you to the Super Bowl when you are a top team. Luck can play a part in getting the #1 or #2 or just who you played. In addition to a 17 game schedule, it will allow some teams to have MORE home games than away games. Just a terrible CBA all around.
Instead of the owners just giving more money to the players, they just want them to play more. Which makes sense in most cases, but not when there is a great chance of injury. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
I hope they do strike. The 17th game I don't like. I don't like 7 teams instead of 6, and I hate hate hate hate hate hate that they are eliminating one of the byes. That means we wouldn't have had a bye this year in the AFC. You rely on that to help propel you to the Super Bowl when you are a top team. Luck can play a part in getting the #1 or #2 or just who you played. In addition to a 17 game schedule, it will allow some teams to have MORE home games than away games. Just a terrible CBA all around.
Instead of the owners just giving more money to the players, they just want them to play more. Which makes sense in most cases, but not when there is a great chance of injury.
This is where I'm at too. I absolutely hate the playoff expansion. That one is a complete no go for me.
The 17 game season is OK, but the odd number makes it not work so well with the unequal number of homes and aways...maybe they end up doing 8 home, 8 away, and 1 international game for everyone? If not, I'd rather see something like 18 games with 2 byes and only 1 or 2 preseason game or something. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
I thoroughly disagree.
In November 2018, I had bi-lateral micro-decompression of my L2/L3, L3/L4 and L4/L5, which is the long way of saying that I had surgery for Spinal Stenosis.
I took Tramadol, which is an extremely potent opoid, for 3 days. Not only was I completely and utterly constipated, and spent 8 hours one night bleeding out my ass due to the effect of the opioid, I was in massive pain.
On Day 4, I flushed the Tramadol down the toilet and began taking 40mg's of edibles, Nugs to be exact, to combat the pain. It was like a miracle drug, I shit you not. I didn't get "high", because the pain was way too intense but I felt SO much better AND after a few days, resumed normal bathroom activities.
I have no idea what it feels like to play in the NFL but it's difficult for me to believe that THC won't help manage their pain.
I have sciatica pain. I've not smoked weed in 30 years. I think it would make a huge difference. But, I have to take work mandated drug tests all the time. Weed is not an option until the scumbags legalize it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
I have sciatica pain. I've not smoked weed in 30 years. I think it would make a huge difference. But, I have to take work mandated drug tests all the time. Weed is not an option until the scumbags legalize it.
What? You mean you aren't going to just smoke it anyway and then blame your employer if you fail a test, even though you knew the consequences ahead of time? What a genius you are! [Reply]
This is basically all angled to extend the season and be able to add teams.
If you get to 18 games and expanded playoffs look what you can do...You can add a bye to the regular season, you add a round to the playoffs etc and all of the sudden you've extended the season by a month.
Also an 18 game schedule makes expansion easier, don't be surprised if they end up getting up to 40 teams in the next 20 years.
This is all about money, more teams, more weeks more games more money. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
This is basically all angled to extend the season and be able to add teams.
If you get to 18 games and expanded playoffs look what you can do...You can add a bye to the regular season, you add a round to the playoffs etc and all of the sudden you've extended the season by a month.
Also an 18 game schedule makes expansion easier, don't be surprised if they end up getting up to 40 teams in the next 20 years.
This is all about money, more teams, more weeks more games more money.
What 8 cities could support NFL expansion? The list looks very weak. San Antonio and San Diego are possibles. I don't really buy Orlando or Portland. The big ones were Las Vegas and LA which both got teams. Salt Lake seems like a big loser. What pro athlete wants to move to Mormon town? [Reply]
Originally Posted by CarlosCarson88:
If they strike, they strike. Big deal. It will end like the others. Players get a little bit ,while the owners lose nothing. Over and over again.
Jocks are a dime a dozen. There's not only 35 great QBS in a land of 300 million.
Uh, there are 35 'great' QBs in the NFL? By all means, name the 35 . . .
Because as far as the rest of us can tell, there aren't more than about 5 'great' QBs in the NFL. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bill Brasky:
What 8 cities could support NFL expansion? The list looks very weak. San Antonio and San Diego are possibles. I don't really buy Orlando or Portland. The big ones were Las Vegas and LA which both got teams. Salt Lake seems like a big loser. What pro athlete wants to move to Mormon town?
8 cities that can support NFL teams, now remember newer are building smaller stadiums as this is a TV product.
1. Toronto
2. San Antonio/Austin both of these cities are huge so pick one
3. Portland
4. Oklahoma City
5. San Diego
6. St Louis
7. Albuquerque
8. Louisville
Those bottom 2 are longer shots but I left off places like London, Mexico City, Vancouver and even Salt Lake, there are a lot of options. Hell Columbus Ohio is massive but the Buckeyes are there so.... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
This is basically all angled to extend the season and be able to add teams.
If you get to 18 games and expanded playoffs look what you can do...You can add a bye to the regular season, you add a round to the playoffs etc and all of the sudden you've extended the season by a month.
Also an 18 game schedule makes expansion easier, don't be surprised if they end up getting up to 40 teams in the next 20 years.
This is all about money, more teams, more weeks more games more money.
They obviously want teams in other countries, too.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
8 cities that can support NFL teams, now remember newer are building smaller stadiums as this is a TV product.
1. Toronto
2. San Antonio/Austin both of these cities are huge so pick one
3. Portland
4. Oklahoma City
5. San Diego
6. St Louis
7. Albuquerque
8. Louisville
Those bottom 2 are longer shots but I left off places like London, Mexico City, Vancouver and even Salt Lake, there are a lot of options. Hell Columbus Ohio is massive but the Buckeyes are there so....
Move one of the struggling franchises like the Chargers, Jags or Bucs to Toronto. [Reply]
