DeMaurice Smith Hosts ‘Anti-Lockout Task Force’ at NFLPA Headquarters September 02, 2009

DeMaurice Smith Hosts ‘Anti-Lockout Task Force’ at NFLPA Headquarters
September 02, 2009

NFLPLAYERS.COM
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith met Wednesday with a group of economists, lawyers and business advisors at NFLPA headquarters to discuss strategies for countering a potential lockout by the NFL owners.
Since March 2009, there have been only two formal negotiating sessions. Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell briefly met over lunch Tuesday in Washington, D.C. after the Commissioner paid a visit to Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.
According to the Washington Post’s coverage of Tuesday's visit, Goodell said, “We’re communicating, we’re trying to get information to the union leadership, make sure they understand the challenges we’re facing as a system and as a business. And make sure they understand that so we can design a system that addresses the issues for the players, the coaches and the game.”
When Goodell’s comment in Wednesday’s newspaper was raised during the morning’s strategy meeting, Smith reminded NFLPLAYERS.COM that numerous written and public requests have been made for precisely that information, including profit and loss figures, details of television contracts and, above all, a formal proposal to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“If they need to use our copy machines or printers to get us this information,” Smith said, “the door to our office is always open.”


Our players have proved that they are ready, willing and prepared to meet at anytime.
-- DeMaurice Smith
Ed Garvey, the NFLPA’s Executive Director from 1971 through 1983, attended the meeting to provide some historical context to the strategy session.
Garvey said, “It’s important that today’s players know that we went through tough times before and despite taking some licks, players emerged stronger every time. There is no question that the NFLPA is in a difficult position because they’ve been forced to come to the bargaining table without much information. But I’m just happy to be here and help share some strategies and success stories from the good old days.”
There has been growing concern in some media reports that only two bargaining sessions have been held to date. Sports Business Journal’s Dan Kaplan reported in the publication’s most recent issue that, “Goodell said the league has suggested several dates to resume negotiations but has not heard back.”
Smith responded, “Our players have proved that they are ready, willing and prepared to meet at anytime. It’s not a question of dates; it’s a question of substance. We hope they can offer the appropriate information and then figure out a way to communicate it to us.”