NFLPA’s DeMaurice Smith: “Cartels Will Do What Cartels Do When Left Unchecked”

WASHINGTON—NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith addressed a range of topics Thursday afternoon at a press conference outside union headquarters, including the collusion case, the alleged “pay-to-injure” program, Junior Seau’s passing, player health and safety initiatives and more.

Speaking to a contingent of media members, Smith said all clubs the union has visited (approximately six) are complying with new rules outlined in the CBA, stated that players currently receive 54 percent of revenues (the highest percentage in NFL history) and announced the addition of three doctors working on a medical accountability provision under the CBA.

“We will never stand pat or reach a point where we believe the game is as safe as it can be,” Smith said. “We do move forward to try to make this game safer and better.”

Smith, flanked by NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth, NFLPA General Counsel Tom DePaso, NFLPA Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs George Atallah and NFLPA Senior Director of Player Services and Development Jason Belser, was asked about Wednesday’s filing of a collusion claim against NFL owners.

“Cartels will do what cartels do when left unchecked,” he said. “We will always act on behalf of our players’ best interest when we believe their rights have been violated.”

On Wednesday, the class counsel under the Reggie White settlement agreement and the NFL Players Association, on behalf of the NFL players, filed a collusion complaint against the National Football League and the team owners.

“My view is that the facts that we had backed up the claim that we filed,” Smith said when asked about the pending case. “We wouldn’t have filed if we didn’t think the facts were true.”

While the players association and the league have been at odds over issues arising over the past several weeks and months, the head of the union acknowledged that “every negotiation has a number of issues.”

Smith followed up his initial remarks by stressing that the players of the NFL believe in a clean game, but the players also believe in a fair, clean process. Historically, the NFLPA has always been the one to push the envelope on various health and safety initiatives, he said.

Smith told reporters, “I’m proud of our players union that … we’ve stood up to make a stand. We committed ourselves to changing the conversation since 2009. A game can be profitable and fun, but a game can also be safer.”

Asked about Seau’s death, the union said that unfortunate event prompted a “what can we learn” mentality going forward. Referencing the late John Mackey, Smith said the NFLPA will do whatever it can to hold the NFL accountable for contributions to the families of players who built the game of football. He also stated that the union’s ability to tweak the current economic structure of the NFL in last year’s labor negotiations has guaranteed parity amongst teams in the league.

Still, as has been stated before by the players’ side, the union made clear that owners have taken an approach of treating players as replaceable parts in their money-churning engine.

“No player fits into the long-term business plans of an owner,” Smith told reporters.

By Khalil Garriott