Smith is Barking up the Wrong Tree
New National Football League Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith made comments today that were nice to hear in regards to retired players. The problem is though Smith is barking up the wrong tree for help in the NFLPA’s battle in regards to a new collective bargaining agreement.
“I don’t represent active players. I don’t represent retired players. I represent all NFL players. We are one team,” said Smith according to the Associated Press.
The thing is that retired players are beyond the point of talk as they want action right now.
The thing is that retired players, especially the ones that played in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s, feel that players today are overpaid.
Hall of Fame Buffalo Bills guard Joe DeLamielleure went on to say that all players today are over paid in appearances on WGR Sports Radio 550.
He also went on to say that the owners have done more than enough by giving almost 60 percent of every dollar and that the problem is ultimately the NFLPA themselves by not diverting more of that money to benefits for retired players.
Joe D is right the problem is not the owners, beacuse they are the ones that do not decide what goes to retired players that in the past was Smith predecessor Gene Upshaw.
Smith’s remarks are good to hear and are a step in the right direction. However, they will give Smith no help until they get help from Smith.
All Smith has to do is that instead of the salary cap going up for the next five years the money instead will be diverted to players pensions, which is one of the worst in major professional sports.
They may be old and banged up, but they are not stupid.