Outgoing NFLPA President Kevin Mawae confirmed player reps at the union's annual meetings in Marco Island, Fla., have been discussing the possibility of changing the way NFL players are paid their salaries. The change would be from receiving game checks during the regular season to getting regular paychecks year round. Mawae said, "There are discussions about whether that is most beneficial to our players and whether or not a 52 week pay out schedule would benefit our players in terms of being more fiscally and financially responsible." Although some NFL clubs may differ slightly in their approach, there is a standard clause in most NFL player contracts which states they are paid their salaries over a course of regular season NFL games. The issue is something that the players brought up at the meeting this week and it is not clear whether or not it will be voted on before the active player meeting is concluded on Sunday. It also remains unclear as to whether any players' vote on the issue would be something subject to the league's collective bargaining agreement.
Players are also expected to vote on Mawae’s successor on Sunday, and Mawae said he did not know who would run or who would win. Mawae: “That is the beauty of a democratic process. Anybody can run and anybody can win. I am not endorsing anybody. My feeling is that if a guy has the heart to serve the players and do it with the right intent, then go for it. The players can decide who they want as their leader.” Exec Committee member Domonique Foxworth, who is a friend of Mawae’s and who ran against him for the president’s position in '10, is seen by some in the industry, including agents, as a favorite to win the post. Asked about Foxworth's chances, Mawae said, “That talk started six years ago when he was a player rep. It is no secret that he would be great, just as anybody else would.”
