D Smith might be in real trouble

[papasmurfbell]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/26/gilbert-platform-advocates-blowing-up-cba-18-games/

Gilbert platform advocates blowing up CBA, 18 games

Next March, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith will face re-election for the second time since getting this job. This time around, Smith may be facing an opponent.

Former NFL defensive lineman Sean Gilbert has announced his intention to run for the job. Later this morning, Gilbert will conduct a media conference call discussing his candidacy, along with his platform.

PFT has obtained a copy of Gilbert’s platform, which consists of 23 total points.

The first — and arguably most notable — point reiterates Gilbert’s desire to pursue termination of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, via the anti-collusion provisions of the labor deal.

The goal, as we understand it, won’t be to strike, but to get the NFL back to the bargaining table with the goal of improving the current contract. Of course, if there’s no labor deal there will be a chance the league will lock out the players, again. But if there’s a work stoppage, it won’t happen due to a strike.

Gilbert also advocates a $1 million minimum player salary, a reduction in dues from $15,000 to $10,000, three-year rookie deals, free agency after three years, permissible renegotiation after only one year (with Russell Wilson specifically mentioned as an example), a one-time career limitation on the use of the franchise tag, elimination of the transition tag, removal of two preseason games, elimination of compensatory draft picks, increase of roster size from 53 to 57 (with an 11-player practice squad), increase in the practice-squad salary to $20,000 per week, elimination of “contract splits,” elimination of certain exclusions from “all revenue,” such as Cowboys merchandising and Jets/Giants PSL fees, and restriction of the Commissioner’s judge-jury-executioner power.

Gilbert also extends a major carrot to the league, proposing an 18-game regular season and a shifting of the Super Bowl to President’s Day Weekend.

While the election won’t happen until March, the election will be largely won or lost in the coming weeks. Since the team-by-team player representatives ultimately vote on the executive director, the ability of Smith, Gilbert, or any other candidate to successfully place 17 of their supporters in those positions for 2014-15 will eventually deliver the election.

 

[GrubberRaven]

Interesting...

[ForceEight]

I think Gilbert will pressure Smith to change some of his ideas, but Gilbert isn't winning anything.

[papasmurfbell]

I don't see why not. the guy is smart. He fired his agent and started negotiating his own deals. He gets the system and how to play hard ball.

[tsylvester]

I don't see why not. the guy is smart. He fired his agent and started negotiating his own deals. He gets the system and how to play hard ball.

 

 

Smart guy? If he were to get his way, he ill ruin football. If they strike again, I will be done with football.

[papasmurfbell]

Who said they want to strike?

[tsylvester]

Who said they want to strike?

 

 

Who said they said they would strike? I was making a statement. Since- ---

The goal, as we understand it, won’t be to strike, but to get the NFL back to the bargaining table with the goal of improving the current contract. Of course, if there’s no labor deal there will be a chance the league will lock out the players, again. But if there’s a work stoppage, it won’t happen due to a strike.

 

 

 

Won't be to strike, just to force the owners into a lock out situation, nice, real nice. without a CBA there can be no games, no practice etc. To say he is going to challenge the CBA based on the collusion rule? PA Lease he is already starting things out on the antagonistic foot. So I suppose I should make it a little more clear, not that it matters to the NFL or NFLPA, if there is another work stoppage, I will quit watching football...

 

The players got everything they wanted as did the owners in the last CBA, less practices, less contact in practice, and we see the outcome so far, poor play on the field.

[RavenMad]

 

The players got everything they wanted as did the owners in the last CBA, less practices, less contact in practice, and we see the outcome so far, poor play on the field.

 

I agree and some of the rules they come up with our just plain stupid like the one where you can't have contact with coaches during certain times of the offseason. Stupid stupid rule. The only good thing to come out of the last CBA was the rookie wage scale.

[cravnravn]

yes was a horrible deal on both sides, the object of this game is to get to the Super bowl, now if Im owner i want my coaching staff in contact with my star players when ever possible, this no contact after certain time i feel has lead to more injuries the past 2 seasons.

[thundercleetz]

If the players are going to ask for that much they better be ready for invasive HGH testing.

[papasmurfbell]

 

 

Who said they said they would strike? I was making a statement. Since- ---

 

 

Won't be to strike, just to force the owners into a lock out situation, nice, real nice. without a CBA there can be no games, no practice etc. To say he is going to challenge the CBA based on the collusion rule? PA Lease he is already starting things out on the antagonistic foot. So I suppose I should make it a little more clear, not that it matters to the NFL or NFLPA, if there is another work stoppage, I will quit watching football...

 

The players got everything they wanted as did the owners in the last CBA, less practices, less contact in practice, and we see the outcome so far, poor play on the field.

A strike and lockout are two different things.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/27/de-smith-says-18-game-season-isnt-his-decision/

De Smith says 18-game season isn’t his decision

Sean Gilbert, who conducted a media conference call on Tuesday in connection with his plan to pursue the position of NFLPA executive director, wants to achieve a variety of gains for the players. In return, Gilbert is willing to give the NFL something for which it had stopped asking: An 18-game regular season.

Appearing that same day (coincidentally, or not) on ESPN’s SportsCenter, De Smith addressed the issue of expanding the regular season.

“It’s not my decision to make,” Smith said. “If someone thinks it’s better for them to play 18 games. I know that there’s a healthy number of football players now who would say go ahead and do play 18 games.”

Current NFLPA president Eric Winston strongly opposes the idea of expanding the regular season to 18 games. Few players have argued in favor of adding a pair of games. Given the current climate of player health and safety, it’s hard to imagine Gilbert’s proposal taking root among the rank and file.

Smith also addressed the fact that he faces an actual challenger for the job, a dynamic that the sitting NFLPA executive director hasn’t confronted in decades.

“I don’t give much thought to people who want this job,” Smith said. “I have the pleasure of working for the players of the National Football League, the players decide who their leaders will be. I look forward to March. I intend to be in this job for as long as the players will have me.”

The issue could be resolved long before March. The election of the 2014-15 team-by-team player representatives, which will occur in the coming weeks, potentially will result in the eventual winner being determined, if at least 17 of the 32 reps favor one of the candidates.

 

[cravnravn]

3 Pre season games, the NFL & Ownership should be embarrassed for televising and charging admission for the 4 th pre season game, Make that 4th pre season week 1..Do away with the bye week, either do away the Jag organization or add another team..OR keep it at 31 teams and add a game in January.

[papasmurfbell]

Then you wiill have 8 or 9 home games and 8 or 9 away games. Make the last 2 regular season games.

[tsylvester]

A strike and lockout are two different things.

 

 

 

No, really?

[thundercleetz]

Then you wiill have 8 or 9 home games and 8 or 9 away games. Make the last 2 regular season games.

 

I still think 17 games is a good compromise. Make that 17th game an annual, geographical, cross conference rivalry game that alternates home field every year. Think rivalry week in college football. Redskins-Ravens, Eagles-Steelers, two NY teams. Play the game the first or second week of the season when the hype of the season is still high for all teams.

[cravnravn]

 

I still think 17 games is a good compromise. Make that 17th game an annual, geographical, cross conference rivalry game that alternates home field every year. Think rivalry week in college football. Redskins-Ravens, Eagles-Steelers, two NY teams. Play the game the first or second week of the season when the hype of the season is still high for all teams.

 

I think they try that now, except the NFL think that our rival is the Bungles...Id rather face off with Indy that last week, for naming rights

[papasmurfbell]

I don't see owners wanting other owners having more home games than they have. I also think 1 game should be a regional rival. Bmore and DC play. Jets Giants and Texans and Cowboys.

[thundercleetz]

I don't see owners wanting other owners having more home games than they have. I also think 1 game should be a regional rival. Bmore and DC play. Jets Giants and Texans and Cowboys.

 

If the game is with a fixed regional rival on an annual basis, homefield can be rotated every year. I do not think the owners would have a problem with that. I really like the idea of the annual regional rivalry game.

 

Before anything is decided, I feel the NFL needs to clear up the relocation issues around the league. We cannot expand to 17/18 games and continue to have franchises like Jacksonville, Buffalo, St. Louis, San Diego, etc. continue to black out. Move the Rams back to LA, the Jags to London, and the Bills to Toronto to maximize these revenue expansion opportunities.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/03/gilbert-clarifies-his-planned-collusion-claim/

Gilbert clarifies his planned collusion claim

Former NFL player Sean Gilbert plans to run for the position of NFLPA executive director. His candidacy is premised in large part on a plan to terminate the current labor deal by filing a collusion claim.

Gilbert has kept his cards close to the vest regarding the details of the collusion claim, but he has sent an email to the media to clarify the situation, in relation to the pending collusion case filed by the NFLPA in the aftermath of the salary-cap penalties imposed on Dallas and Washington in 2012.

Gilbert, explaining that he has received numerous requests for clarification (whether he actually has doesn’t matter) regarding his planned collusion case, says that the claim he’d make “is based on an entirely different set of facts,” and that he will be seeking both financial damages and termination of the CBA.

In a recent email, Gilbert also said that, if/when the labor deal ends, he won’t launch a strike. But Gilbert hasn’t ruled out provoking a lockout and then holding firm, so that the inevitable antitrust lawsuit filed after decertification of the union will have an opportunity to play out in court. Which could wipe out a full season of football.