It seems like it’s really easy to find players who don’t like the current collective bargaining agreement offer. Russel Wilson made his opinion known via Twitter:
Aaron Rodgers had a much longer, but similar take:
Maurkice Pouncey used some colorful language. Richard Sherman reportedly wasn’t a fan:
J.J. Watt also said no and that was a few days ago:
The point is that there’s a lot of coverage about players being against the deal and the obvious reaction would be that there’s no way this thing passes, but there are reasons to think it could pass and here are the reasons why.
There are a lot of players
Sometimes the loudest voices make the most noise but that isn’t a reflection of the masses. There are a lot of players in the union. There are a few examples of no’s that were reviewed, but those players don’t speak for everyone. In fact, there are a ton of players with a vote and the CBA only needs to pass by a simple majority.
The job of the union is to represent the entire union. Its job isn’t to represent the highest-paid players more than the lowest-paid players. It’s not to agree with the players with the biggest names and forget about the opinions of the guys at hanging on at the end of the roster. It’s one player, one vote. Sometimes what’s best for the highest-paid players isn’t what’s best for the lowest-paid players. We’ll see what the entire union thinks.
Those lower-paid players may want the extra check
The 17-game season was a big talking point. Especially after there was a report that there would be a $250,000 cap on that game. Well, that cap has been lifted:
Even if it wasn’t lifted, there’s a real question about how many NFL players it would affect. It was intended to only cap players who would earn more than that in a single game check. That seems like it would a lot.
Except if we read that closely that’s 47 percent of starters only. That’s not a ton of players. Here’s the math:
(47 % of 22 starters) 10.34 x 32 = 331 players
42.64 (assuming 53 man roster) other players on the active roster don’t make more than the max according to Darren’s numbers.
42.64 x 32 equals 1364 players who don’t make enough to worry about the to the max.
As we all know, playing in the NFL is an unforgiving profession and most players don’t make millions of dollars per game. That’s 1364 players getting an extra paycheck. A lot of them will probably never make a huge contract. That extra paycheck is a big deal.
Market factors matter
Television distribution deals could be pushing the owners to rush the CBA. Players may want to take that into account. This could be the strongest negotiating position the league has with its distribution partners.
Ratings could drop for any number of reasons. There could be an increase in cord-cutters who use over the top antennas. It’s tougher to track those viewers than it is to track people using traditional cable. The NFL could see a ratings dip because it’s an election year. It’s happened before. Other factors could contribute to distribution partners wanting to hoard cash. No one knows what’s going to happen. There’s no way the league can pitch a level of certainty right now, but they are in a better position than they could be. We know what’s happening now.
Before anyone says that the NFL could be even more popular next year, sure that could happen, but imagine this scenario. Imagine if the NBA waited to negotiate its television deals and the Hong Kong protest issue came up during that negotiation. No one knows what market factors will change things and the NFL is in a position to use leverage now that may not be there in the future.
Fan backlash
As bad as it sounds a lot of fans somehow always end up backing the billionaires in the billionaires versus millionaires battle. That’s just how it is. Nuance is not a strength of the masses. The owners have a much more effective apparatus when it comes to getting out their message. They have contacts with reporters and large companies that cover the league. The players simply don’t have the same tools they can use nor do they have the bank accounts to match the owners in an all-out labor war. It’s an unfortunate reality. It’s unfair, but that’s the position the players are in.
Conclusion
In no way should the players take a deal where they feel uncomfortable. In no way should this commentary be taken as backing the owners and suggesting the players take the deal. If the players turn it down, they have their reasons. There are reasons why most of the players may want to take the deal though. There are reasons that the loudest people who are against the deal may not get what they want. That’s why it’s a union. Some players may not like it, but they may have to sacrifice for the greater good. This may be the best deal that’s out there. That’s why there could be a CBA agreement even if it looks like all players don’t want to come to an agreement.
