Roger Goodell: Without CBA, health care coverage is players' responsibility

[Arch Stanton]

Roger Goodell: Without CBA, health care coverage is players' responsibility
03:34 PM

If the NFL's labor deal expires in March, players had better not expect their current employers to foot the bill for continuing health care coverage.

"That's a pretty good reason to come to the negotiating table and get a labor agreement," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week. "That's pretty good motivation."

NFL players union officials have expressed concern that coverage will be disrupted if the CBA expires. Goodell said that's an issue for players to hash out with the union.

"It's been dealt with in other circumstances and other negotiating positions, where unions have arranged to pay for their COBRA care," Goodell said. "That's the issue. They'll continue to get medical care. It's just that the burden of paying for that will no longer be on the clubs, it would be on the individuals or on the union."

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communi...lth-care-coverage-is-players-responsibility/1

 

[Prodigal Son]

I have a feeling this is going to get uglier before it gets better. I'm preparing myself for no NFL at all next year as a worst case scenario.

 

[Alumni2k11]

I have a feeling this is going to get uglier before it gets better. I'm preparing myself for no NFL at all next year as a worst case scenario.

Same here. Potentially, both the NFL and NBA could be locked out next year. With the MLB ending in OCT/NOV, the only pro sports on tv would be hockey. Yikes.

 

[Alumni2k11]

As well as stuff like golf and tennis...

 

[big dog cowboy]

Same here. Potentially, both the NFL and NBA could be locked out next year. With the MLB ending in OCT/NOV, the only pro sports on tv would be hockey. Yikes.

Rasslin'...........oh wait........

 

[UKCowboysFan]

Same here. Potentially, both the NFL and NBA could be locked out next year. With the MLB ending in OCT/NOV, the only pro sports on tv would be hockey. Yikes.

You could always watch Soccer, I know how much you guys love it

 

[Prodigal Son]

Same here. Potentially, both the NFL and NBA could be locked out next year. With the MLB ending in OCT/NOV, the only pro sports on tv would be hockey. Yikes.

That could be the boost the NHL needs. Gary Bettman is probably praying for a NFL/NBA lockout. :laugh2:

 

[DallasGirl50]

I would not be shocked if the NFL fields "scab" teams like they did the last time they had a strike.

 

[Hoofbite]

I don't know what I would do without Sunday games.

I'd be pissed.

 

[Prodigal Son]

I would not be shocked if the NFL fields "scab" teams like they did the last time they had a strike.

Unfortunately, you are probably right.

 

[DallasGirl50]

Unfortunately, you are probably right.

I had Cowboys season tickets and went to those games. Actually the Cowboys team was better than what the others came in with. I remember Randy White playing and a few others. And I think that's where all the Buddy Ryan hate towards the Cowboys began. Landry played regulars and he only had the street players. Interesting times.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I'd almost put a C-note down for the heck of it that says if the union decertifies, the NFL will sue them in federal court because the union has every intention of reorganizing if and when a new CBA is drafted and approved. In essence the timing of the decertification votes now, within the season, seems to play into the hands of the owners. And precedence favors the owners, as the NFLPA has already pulled this same thing back in 87.

Going to be a helluva dog fight I think, and a stronger NFL will come out of the back end of the deal.

One thing I would REALLY want to see is the NFLPA have equal membership on a few committees that oversee the game itself. The Rules committee is the first that comes to mind.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

After reading that last line in the article it seems to me that the NFLPA is asking for the extension of healthcare, playing hardball with the decertification, and having NO clue that the precedent exists for the healthcare to be paid for by the union itself. IMHO, the NFLPA is in waaaaaay over its head. They're almost living in a vacuum when it comes to the extent of free market union labor negotiations, and really don't know the extent of the knowledge these billionaire owners have when it comes to said same negotiations.

The NFLPA is asking for something, and the owners are laughing at them for asking the idiotic question. "Of course you don't get any healthcare coverage. You're a union, you know this. Oh, wait...."