The NFL Players Association has been compiling a war chest in the event of a lockout. And some of that cash has now been devoted to a media campaign aimed at blocking a lockout.
Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the union has produced 30-second and 60-second commercials featuring NFL players and fans clamoring for football in 2011. The commercial will debut on the union’s website today, and it will be aired during the NFLPA college All-Star Game, February 5 on CBS College Sports.
Players in the segment (including NFLPA president Kevin Mawae) say, “Let us play.” The fans say, “Let them play.”
It’s unknown whether Tanner Boyle will be making a cameo.
We’ve got no problem with the effort. It’s no different than the league’s P.R. ploy of dropping salaries to $1. Both sides continue to battle for the hearts and minds of a fan base that really doesn’t care about anything other than getting a deal done.
The sooner both sides realize that they’re wasting their time and their money, perhaps the sooner a deal will get done.