cowboyjoe
03-14-2012, 10:39 AM
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/14/on-cowboysredskins-cap-issue-nfl-and-nflpa-revised-cba-without-a-vote/
So, fine, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to this. But here’s the thing. To the extent that the league and the union were agreeing to a fairly significant modification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it happened without formal approval being obtained by the league (via 24 of 32 owners) or the union (via its Executive Committee and Board of Player Representatives, at a minimum).
If pushed, the league and the union surely would claim that so-called “side letter agreements” routinely are executed between the parties, without membership votes. Still, under that device, any proposed term that would be unpopular with either or both side’s membership during “normal” CBA negotiations could be deferred until after the ink dries on the deal, and then reduced to a “side letter” that is negotiated without a vote.
On something this important, shouldn’t there have been a discussion with ownership and an opportunity to vote? Four teams (the Redskins, Cowboys, Saints, and Raiders) likely would have voted against the move; if five more would have agreed that it was wrong to punish teams for refusing to engage in collusion, the measure would have died.
So, fine, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to this. But here’s the thing. To the extent that the league and the union were agreeing to a fairly significant modification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it happened without formal approval being obtained by the league (via 24 of 32 owners) or the union (via its Executive Committee and Board of Player Representatives, at a minimum).
If pushed, the league and the union surely would claim that so-called “side letter agreements” routinely are executed between the parties, without membership votes. Still, under that device, any proposed term that would be unpopular with either or both side’s membership during “normal” CBA negotiations could be deferred until after the ink dries on the deal, and then reduced to a “side letter” that is negotiated without a vote.
On something this important, shouldn’t there have been a discussion with ownership and an opportunity to vote? Four teams (the Redskins, Cowboys, Saints, and Raiders) likely would have voted against the move; if five more would have agreed that it was wrong to punish teams for refusing to engage in collusion, the measure would have died.