NO Playoff expansion as NFLPA makes their case
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| courtesy nfl.com |
"The players have not seen a press release from the NFL indicating that they were going to take up the issue of better workers compensation benefits or increased injury protection benefits in light of their desire for extra playoff games, A credible commitment to player health and safety has to include more than a group of Owners voting to recommend playing more games"
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated that he doesn't believe that they need player approval before approving a playoff expansion. Thats all well and fine, but under the current CBA, all changes in working conditions (including adding two teams to playoffs) must be approved and negotiated with the players. This was brought up by Smith as well:
"Player leadership has consistently made it clear that we do not consider any issue, let alone issues that affect player health and safety, in a vacuum. We have seen the NFL Owners and the League support rollbacks in injury care benefits and loss wage benefits in Louisiana, California and Arizona. Their inability to address and resolve these issues among various clubs means that players suffer disparate treatment in a League that disciplines to maintain uniformity. Most recently, the Saints introduced a bill aimed at only professional athletes to reduce players' workers compensation benefits."
And now the big shocker...
No surprise, there won't be a vote on playoff expansion for 2014. Still aiming at 2015.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 20, 2014
There would be no way for them to expand the playoffs without consent from the players and workers. Especially because they just brought this up during the meetings, and hadn't given any advanced warning into what was going on. Granted in the future this could be a possibility, but the NFL would have to bring it up months in advance and work with all parties to secure a safe and reliable way to make this happen.
- Joshua Powers
@Jmano33
