ReutersIn the wake of multiple reports that the NFLPA* will not stage events that compete with the 2011 NFL draft, NFLPA* spokesman George Atallah says via Twitter that the “NFLPA is not asking players or agents to boycott the NFL draft.”
But that’s not really news. Earlier this month, Atallah stressed (also on Twitter) that the NFLPA* had not asked anyone to boycott the draft. Last week, NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith told PFT Live the same thing. “[W]e saw the report from someone from another network that I won’t name use the word ‘boycott’ because it was a word that he wanted to come up with,” Smith said. “We never told folks to boycott the draft.”
Thus, we think the NFLPA* needs to go a step farther. Instead of saying that no one has been asked to boycott the draft, the NFLPA* needs to affirmatively encourage players who are invited to the draft to attend it — especially since we’ve heard that at least one player expected to be invited to the draft has been quietly asked by the NFLPA* to not attend.
Saying that the NFLPA* has not asked anyone to boycott the draft and setting up events that don’t conflict with the draft provides P.R. cover, but it doesn’t undo the damage that already has been done via the Marie Barone passive-aggressive “go ahead and go to your fancy party even though the person hosting it has taken away my health insurance” routine. At this point, the NFLPA* needs to do more than no discourage attendance. The NFLPA* needs to give its blessing to the players who are invited to the draft.
Otherwise, it’s fair to say that plenty of the guys who opt to stay home with their families have selected a strategy that avoids any potential problems with their future NFL teammates and opponents.
I wish the agents could be made to stay away from draft.
Screw what the union wants. Rookies don’t need their “blessing”. To hell with ‘em.
good, then i don’t have to move to canadia.
“NFLPA is not asking players or agents to boycott the NFL draft”
Seems crystal clear.
Why would anyone have a problem with that?
It’s not the NFLPA’s event so why should they encourage anyone to attend? It’s up to the NFL and ESPN to persuade the college players.
And if they say no, that’s fine too.
As a disgusted fan I think I’ll boycott the draft, NFL Sunday Ticket, all NFL products and do something else this fall.
Its obvious the NFLPA is back tracking on this issue pretty hardcore after the public response to making the incoming draftees pawns in a labor dispute wasn’t favorable.
Gosh guys, if you never ever suggested such a thing to anybody, where did we all get the impression you were calling for a boycott?
All this silliness and posturing needs to stop from both sides. It’s hard to believe that I can chuck my interest and love for the game, but these collective children almost have me there.
It wasn’t the NFLPA that took away your health insurance. It was Obama and Pelosi.
No. The NFLPA* needs to stop being passive aggressive and say what they mean: Kids, don’t go to their party. Not because the draftees shouldn’t (I wouldn’t if I was one of them, though) but because that is what the trade association actually wants.
Just say what you mean, NFLPA*.
I’m tired of the union wanting it both ways. The last CBA gave them a revenue split they liked, and even though it’s expired, they refuse to move on that split for a new agreement.
The last CBA allowed the league to change to 18 games without any additional compensation, something that would allow the league to increase revenues instead of taking a bigger share from the players, and now wants the league to give up that right without giving anything back.
The last CBA included agreement that after expiration of the CBA, the next season would still include a draft, and now the NFLPA* wants to ‘discourage’ players from attending.
I just got into March Madness for the first time because there was no Free Agency, and it was pretty amazing. The longer the NFL and NFLPA* keep this up, the more things I’m going to find to fill my time. As it is, I’m starting to rething the idea of shelling out $1400 a year for 2 season tickets, not including the $500 a year for parking and other numerous expenses.
Good. One of the most exciting times of a player life is being drafted. The PR cat is out of bag, De Smith is trying to put it back in. Just keep those lawers billing De.
The NFLPA* has no obligation to actually encourage draftees to attend a league function wherein the owners have locked out all the players and – in fact – are not even allowed to talk with any of the players who they have locked out. It would be hypocritical – and not even legal – for Smith to speak for all the former union members who have their own opinions and feelings about the draft telecast that makes $$$$$ for the league’s lockout warchest. The players make zero off the draft weekend.
its really not as easy as some are saying. people say, its 9billions dollars, how hard can it be to split up. the reason it is so hard is because it is so much money. there are so many people involved and so much money involved
dwoofer says:
Mar 28, 2011 5:50 PM
It wasn’t the NFLPA that took away your health insurance. It was Obama and Pelosi.
—-
This place isn’t for politics – shut up.
well not anymore they arent…
and actually woofer is right. or he will be very right shortly.
“I just got into March Madness for the first time because there was no Free Agency, and it was pretty amazing.”
Tell me you aren’t serious: trading off the annual excitement of March Madness all these years to watch the paint dry on Free Agency?? The two events aren’t remotely related. March Madness is as much an American Institution as the SuperBowl. Even the Oval Office fills out his bracket – I honestly don’t know anyone who doesn’t.
I don’t do brackets… I don’t even watch march madness….
Obxastronaut –
The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Got my Arena Football season tickets the other day…
why are people putting microphones in front of de smith? what happened to decertification? he’s irrelevant
The NFLPA is full of excrement.
Neither boycotting nor attending the draft will have any effect whatsoever on the labor impasse.
This is a ridiculous (non?)stance by the rapidly deflating balloon that was the NFLPA.
Focus on the real issues, not henpecking each other until you face off in court.
Censorship! Where’s my post?
dwoofer, “the truth hurts”?! Seriously, dude, that’s just so dumb. The players don’t have health insurance because the CBA is over. It has nothing to do with Obama or any president except the one who signed COBRA – which actually allows the players to keep their health insurance.
See what the NFL told the union:
3. “The Club will not pay for or provide health insurance or other active-player benefits or services. You have already received separate communications regarding your option to pay for health benefits continuation under COBRA.”
Take your ignorant political statements to a wacko political blog, not a wacko football blog.
endzonezombie says:Mar 28, 2011 6:21 PM
The NFLPA* has no obligation to actually encourage draftees to attend a league function wherein the owners have locked out all the players and – in fact – are not even allowed to talk with any of the players who they have locked out.
__________________
But, they encouraging draftees not to attend when they don’t even exist.
The NFLPA* needs to butt out. Draftees are not part of the NFLPA* and are not “locked out” until they are drafted and then are “forced” to join the union…….
What the union is doing is no different than the non-union worker who wants to cross the picket line in order to work…bullying tactics.
It is the draftees right to go to the draft and the NFLPA* needs to STFU….
endzonezombie says:Mar 28, 2011 7:00 PM
Even the Oval Office fills out his bracket – I honestly don’t know anyone who doesn’t.
______________
What is this “March-madness” you speak of?????
And, I’m sure “his” bracket is not filled out by “hisself”……..especially since the “oval office” is not a person….did congress approve it by vote?
I’m joking, of course,…….as I am sure you were with that unbelievable post about knowing / caring about March-madness…..
realfann says:Mar 28, 2011 5:39 PM
“NFLPA is not asking players or agents to boycott the NFL draft”
Seems crystal clear.
Why would anyone have a problem with that?
It’s not the NFLPA’s event so why should they encourage anyone to attend? It’s up to the NFL and ESPN to persuade the college players.
_____________________
Ummmm, maybe because they already tried to bully draftees into not going and now they need to backtrack and save face?
I mean, didn’t they recently act like a child and state that they wanted to have their own event for the draftees?…and then say it may be on a different day (backtrack)?
It should / is a slam dunk….no encouragement needed….it is THEIR day. The NFLPA* needs to backtrack because they tried, unsuccessfully, to ruin it due to their own selfishness.
mike83ri
True
packerswambulance says: Mar 28, 2011 5:41 PM
As a disgusted fan I think I’ll boycott the draft, NFL Sunday Ticket, all NFL products and do something else this fall.
No you won’t. You’ll be right by your tv on Sunday waiting for the game to start, wearing your Clay Matthews shirt. You know it, I know it.