If the owners and players somehow find a way back to the bargaining table in the next couple of weeks, a big factor in the success of talks will be the people sitting around the table.
Because of union decertification, the players would be represented by a class counsel and some of those players know who they’d like to see on the other side. Members of the Texans believe that their team’s owner, Bob McNair, would give talks the best chance of success. Offensive tackle Eric Winston, an alternate player representative, explained the rationale to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
“Mr. McNair’s a good businessman who’s a voice of reason, and I’d love to see him get involved,” said Winston. “He’s a moderate voice.”
Linebacker DeMeco Ryans echoed Winston’s statement about McNair. Both men also expressed their dislike for the letter Roger Goodell sent to players, with Winston saying the Commissioner’s inability to make a deal without the owners is part of the reason he wants McNair in the room.
For his part, McNair said last week that he thinks the labor strife will end before too much damage is done to the game. He had some harsh words for the players as well, but nothing that seemed to dissuade a couple of them from thinking that McNair could be a man who helps everyone move forward.