NYT: Becoming Leader of N.F.L. Players Union Won’t Be Last Test

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/sports/football/15nflpa.html?ref=football


From left, Tom Hauck/Getty Images; PRNewsfoto; David Cornwall

Trace Armstrong, left, is considered the main challenger to Troy Vincent in Sunday’s vote by the 32 player representatives. DeMaurice Smith and David Cornwell are the other candidates.

By JUDY BATTISTA
Published: March 14, 2009

Perhaps one good thing will come out of the bare-knuckles campaign to be the next executive director of the N.F.L. Players Association: the winner of Sunday’s election in Hawaii will be in fighting shape for the coming contract negotiations with team owners.

“Whoever has the political skill to emerge will also have the requisite skill to heal the wounds and forge consensus,” said Leigh Steinberg, a longtime agent and observer of union matters. “Players express themselves dramatically.

“Even though feelings get bruised in the selection process, I think very quickly, because ultimately the stakes are so high — they have their whole economic future at stake — there will be consensus forged.”

The ferocity of the maneuvering to succeed Gene Upshaw, who died in August shortly after receiving a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, underscores how unprepared the union was to go on without him. It had no succession plan.

Complicating the search was Upshaw’s falling out with Troy Vincent, a former union president who was once perceived as Upshaw’s successor.

Vincent is one of the four finalists and began the campaign as the front-runner. But he has also been the subject of months of allegations and insinuations — often in the form of anonymous leaks to the news media — questioning everything from how he runs his businesses to how he conducts himself. The union also hired a lawyer to investigate an allegation that Vincent released confidential information about player agents.

FULL story at link.

[bluestateguy]

1. Why do NFL players need a union?

Unions are for working people, which has nothing to do with football players.

[trumad]

2. Dumbest post of the year

Uhhhh NFL Owners are some of the greediest owners in business. If you don't think football players work their asses off for their professions ---we'll then you're ignorant of the game.