An assistant player representative for the Dallas Cowboys, veteran linebacker Bradie James said recently that a lack of trust between the NFL Players’ Union (now considered a trade association, after decertification) and the owners would prove the greatest hurdle in labor negotiations.
Per Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News, at a previous meeting, the players’ pointed to a television deal struck between the owners and cable provider DirecTV as evidence that the owners may not have been quite as intent on avoiding a lockout as advertised--in US District Court last month, it was revealed that under the deal, the owners stood to make more money if a work stoppage forced a cancellation of the season.
Judge David Doty threw the deal out because it violated the collective bargaining agreement, but the players were understandably incensed by the idea.
“The whole trust thing is a fine line,” said James. “We've been fighting this battle since 2009 so to just put it on one case like the TV case (isn't right). But knowing they pretty much tried to finance themselves when we were (locked out) we knew what we were dealing with. That's the monster that you're facing.”
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