DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA Executive Director, Talks To SB Nation

by Ed Valentine on Mar 18, 2011 3:32 PM EDT in New York Giants News

Thursday afternoon SB Nation football writers, including myself, were able to discuss the lockout and other NFL issues via conference call with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Friday morning SB Nation football writers got to hear the other side of the story when NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith held an exclusive conference call of his own with SB Nation's Joel Thorman. Other SB Nation football writers were able to listen in on the call, though not query Smith directly.

Thus far, SB Nation has posted a couple of stories from the Smith call.

DeMaurice Smith: Jeff Pash Has A 'Casual Relationship With The Truth'

"Jeff [Pash] only has a casual relationship with the truth. Jeff knows that the NFL's deal was an all-or-nothing deal. They did not present an a la carte menu to the players of the NFL. They didn't sit down with us and say, 'Why don't you select the things you like, reject the things you don't, and let's move forward.' Jeff knows that their deal was inextricably tied to every point on the deal."

DeMaurice Smith Says Roger Goodell Should Negotiate With Players, Not Write Letters

"Everyone likes to focus on what happened during the last 15 days. Well let me tell you what happened during 15 days of mediation. We had decision makers in the room virtually every day. We had men from the executive committee, former players who sit on the executive committee and team reps in the room for 15 straight days. For most of that time, the NFL never had a decision maker in the room. On the last day of mediation, the National Football League proposed a deal that is -- quote -- the worst deal in the history of sports."

Ugh! Read plenty more at SBNation.com. I might have more thoughts over the weekend on what we heard from both sides during the past two days. No doubt it isn't pretty, though, and there is not much trust on either side.

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If DeMaurice Smith thinks

that’s “the worst deal in the history of sports” I think he needs a history lesson.

"Sometimes you make a mistake and you get hit in the head." - Eli Manning

by blains2000 on Mar 18, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

word

FIX IT

by andiamo708 on Mar 18, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I DONT CARE DEMAURICE

by Oppenheimer919 on Mar 18, 2011 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

Goodell should negotiate instead of writing letters?

Maybe it was another lie but I thought that the Union left the table, broke up the union and then filed lawsuits.

They didn’t present an a la carte option? Well of course not, bargaining is getting some things you like and taking some things you don’t like.

My speculation is that some owners in the downturn of the 2008 economy took a big hit and they want to make sure they are making enough money to compensate for any downturn in the economy.

I see that Smith is also going the route of name calling and saying that Jeff Pash is a liar, not honest…etc. So, let me get this straight – you called a lawyer a liar and not honest. You’re brilliant DeMaurice Smith.

BTW – why are you even talking Smith? The union doesn’t exists and your title doesn’t exist anymore either. Goes more to the claim that the union still exists – just under a different name. By the way – the NFL became one of the best sports through collective bargaining so something tells me you might want to stick with what works. You know Smith is only minutes away from a racist comment or calling Goodell a whitey.

Please get Phil Simms in the Hall of Fame

by The Curse on Mar 18, 2011 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

DeMaurice Smith is a lawyer also…. the NFLPA still exists, however it no longer has collective bargaining powers so its up to the courts for now….

by njsoldier1978 on Mar 20, 2011 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions

The Owners wanted out of the CBA almost immediately.

They have been talking for years about this, it has nothing to do with the 2008 crash. That being said, if the billionaires and millionaires can’t figure out a way to split the last billion, then I will get my Sunday afternoons back. Not that I’m happy with having no excuse not to mow or whatever

too many pucks to da head

by StubsNY on Mar 21, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions