Lombardi Ave » DeMaurice Smith

Night of pandemonium back in hands of leaders

Raymond Rivard — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:34:34 +0000

It sounded so much like national politics … one side rushing to the table to pass an agreement and then the other side shouting “Whoa, wait a minute we don’t even know what’s in this!

The fans are dead tired of it ... we want football ... now! Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Whether it’s Congress voting on national health care or the National Football League owners passing by near majority the most recent version of the collective bargaining agreement, it always comes down to one side or the other sneering and saying it’s not fair or its not complete or there isn’t enough time to evaluate the positive and and negative aspects.

In my mind I can’t believe what’s happening at this point. The owners playing hardball and the players playing like they’ve been asleep for the past four months. They’ve had at least that amount of time to figure out what’s being placed on the table and now their games are holding the American football fans hostage over their last minute finagling?

Clearly De Smith’s late night emails and conference calls have done nothing productive at this point. The owners forcing the issue was a given … one side or the other has to force the point and get these negotiations to the point where some sort of action, good or bad, get s the ball moving. Enough of the talking. (more…)

Chester Pitts aside, a deal must get done

Raymond Rivard — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:16:18 +0000

So, just who is Chester Pitts?

He’s a guard for the Seattle Seahawks and the player rep with inside insight into what’s been happening with the

Our hope is that Chester Pitts is completely wrong. Getty Images

negotiations between the players association and league owners.

What he said late last night is probably worse than the proverbial cold shower – he told Tony Bruno of FOX Sports Radio that it will take “two full weeks” to get the situation resolved.

The celebratory mood going into Tuesday took a hit when the players failed to sign off on the deal in what some are saying is a stall tactic to let the owners take the lead and sign off on the deal Thursday.

Whatever the players’ strategy in this matter, we find it difficult to believe that it will take two weeks to figure out solutions to the issues that seem to be still on the table: the players’ request for $320 million in lost benefits during the uncapped year of 2010; and the demands of Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and Patriots guard Logan Mankins – that they still want $10 million each to put their signatures on the settlement papers of the Brady antitrust class action.

We can’t believe that with all the heavy lifting that’s already taken place to get the two sides to this point that they can’t come to terms quickly.

We also can’t believe the players or owners will allow the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue if the deal isn’t signed this week.

Yes, now is the time that DeMaurice Smith get the lawyers out of the room and tell the players, “Look, now is the time … It’s your time … You either pull the trigger on this deal now or you’re going to lose every fan in America and you’re going to to be flippin’ burgers at McDonald’s or mowing lawns to get by.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell must do something similar. His message will be more along these lines: “You guys need to climb out of your ivory towers and see what’s in front of you -take it now or you’ll be looking for every monster truck show and circus to perform in your stadium.”

So what happens today and tomorrow will probably determine where every Chester Pitts is in the coming year … Get it done, people!

Lockout: Beginning of the end?

Raymond Rivard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:57:39 +0000

How many times have we heard it over the past couple of weeks? The internet has exploded with”cautiously optimistic” stories about the NFL lockout nearing its end and today the the newest round of optimism has begun. (more…)

The end is near …

Raymond Rivard — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:29:31 +0000

It will be nice to see Aaron Rodgers in the red jersey of training camp ... once all this business surrounding the CBA is completed. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The end is near … it’s got to be …

How can it be any different than to think that the NFL owners and players association aren’t going to come to an agreement sooner than later. (more…)

CBA-let’s get it done

Raymond Rivard — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:37:45 +0000

Roger Goodell and his staff will meet with DeMaurice Smith and his staff in Minnesota.

It’s been reported today that the Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith and his staff have committed to four days straight of talks with commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff in Minnesota.
The next round of talks were agreed to and confirmed earlier today by ESPN’s Chris Mortenson as the clock continues to tick down toward the projected start of training camp at the end of the month.
The general feeling around the league is that the two sides will most likely have to come to an agreement by the middle of the month if they don’t want to face the loss of games.
If anyone was even considering the possibility of instituting an 18 game season, that will be clearly out the window as the time winds down on negotiations.
Said Goodell to NFL.com today: “We are under court order, as far as what we can discuss. Obviously we’re all working hard, the players and owners were here over the last few days, and De and I were here for the entire meetings also. And it’s complicated and it’s complex, but we’re working hard. We understand the fans’ frustration, but I think both of us feel strongly that we’re going to continue to work hard on it.”
Smith had this to say:
“Someone asked me if I was optimistic — I think we’re both optimistic when we have the right people in the room. We know we’re talking about the right issues, and we’re working hard to get it done. It’s extremely complicated. It requires a lot of hard work by a lot of people. But we’re committed to getting something done. And we’re gonna keep working at it.”

Smith: Check your ego at the door

Raymond Rivard — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:27:23 +0000

Sometimes when things are going well – it could be in your personal life, in your professional life or it could be in something like say the negotiations between the NFL owners and Players Association – that door.
Take a look at Patrick Allen’s post today on Arrowhead Addict- I’m here to reiterate Allen’s sentiment – that DeMaurice Smith should just “shut the hell up!”
Where does Smith come off telling the players “not to believe the hype.”
Well, Mr. Smith, it may be “hype” to you, but to those who have been working toward resolution on both sides of the table, it’s called progress.
Are you telling me this guy is a master negotiator, a players leader who has all of the association’s members’ best interests at stake?
To me, and as detailed in Allen’s report, this guy is a complete idiot!
First off, when both sides have done nothing for the past two weeks but express positive statements about the process, neither side should want to alienate the other. During a time when both sides have been cautious about name calling or throwing accusations, Smith opens his mouth in public.
That’s a slap in the collective faces of the owners. While they might just chalk it up to Smith’s arrogance and shrug it off (we hope) this is the type of attitude and action that could blow up in the faces of the players.
It looks like both sides will continue to work out the specifics of the deal while plans are that the two sides are to come together again next week.
Let’s only hope that Smith’s arrogance and ego gets checked in at the door.