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 ChiefsFanatic:
I have to believe that the main issues for the NFLPA are increasing the percentage allotted for player salaries, and removing any testing for marijuana. With a 17 game schedule, the players will definitely need more than the 47% they are getting now, and will definitely want to be able to medicate without fear of suspension.
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
So who else is like me and does NOT want a 17th game?...
Yes, I know it’s going to happen. Just prefer it not.
But the one that I really, really hope never happens is expanded playoffs.
It doesn’t really make sense to have a 17th game. With the number of teams in each division and the number of teams in the league, 16 games makes perfect sense for scheduling. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Spott:
It doesn’t really make sense to have a 17th game. With the number of teams in each division and the number of teams in the league, 16 games makes perfect sense for scheduling.
It makes sense in that it puts more money in the owner's pockets. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Spott:
It doesn’t really make sense to have a 17th game. With the number of teams in each division and the number of teams in the league, 16 games makes perfect sense for scheduling.
Yeah I’ve been wondering what’s gonna happen there too.
I hate the odd number, I don’t like that record books are almost certain to be completely re-written, and above all, it just doesn’t make sense for player safety.
It’d be one thing if they’re adding a bye week, that may actually be a positive. But if not, it’s just that much more of a beating for the players to endure season to season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
So who else is like me and does NOT want a 17th game?...
Yes, I know it’s going to happen. Just prefer it not.
But the one that I really, really hope never happens is expanded playoffs.
I think the 17th game is dogshit. Players can already barely make it through a 16 game schedule and we’re gonna add another game? Fucking ridiculous. [Reply]
