On the 50th anniversary of the death of Echol Cole and Robert Walker that started the Memphis Sanitation Worker’s Strike and the “I Am a Man” campaign for the basic human rights to organize a union to receive a fair wage and respect for all the men and women working, the National Football League Players Association held their annual pre-Super Bowl press conference in Minneapolis on Thursday to discuss the many issues players face.
One of the issues brought up was the current collective bargaining agreement the players and owners share being extended beyond 2020. The NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith answered with a simple, but strong answer.
“No,” said Smith on extending the current CBA. “We prepare for war. If we are able to get a collective bargaining agreement done, great. All of these men went through an unilateral war declared on players in 2010-11.”
The NFLPA has advised players to start saving money in preparation for a lockout when the CBA they have in place ends.
Another issue brought up was player safety. For the first time since 2014, it was reported Thursday Night Football games seen a higher injury rate (6.9 injuries per game) than the games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (6.3).
Players have made a focus on protecting each other. Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who was suspended in the regular season on an illegal hit on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams, agreed players need to protect each other better.
“I think the league made the right call on the suspension on that based on that hit,” Davis said, regarding the hit on Davante Adams. “I took full responsibility for that. It’s one of those things that has to be taken out of the game and we understand that.
“It’s all about player safety. It’s all about providing a safe and fun atmosphere for guys to be able to go out there and make a living. Whenever you have stuff like that it takes away from the game.”
NFLPA president Eric Winston agreed and believes almost everything has been done to try and get players to understand the risks of illegal hits.
“Everybody else has to get on the boat,” Winston said. “I need to see more coaches coaching the right way and/or saying ‘I know that’s a hit you can’t take. Do what you can but I don’t want you to get fined or flagged because of this.’ I don’t feel like we’re there yet. I don’t feel like the teams are telling their own guys, ‘I understand the position you’re in.’ I think is where we need to go.
“Whether that’s rule changes to say that hits to the head are going to affect the outcome of the game more. If it’s a system of draft picks with teams that are repeat offenders over a long period of time. They’re letting it happen, they’re not coaching it; they’re not trying to improve it. Everybody’s got to get on the boat on this thing.”
