Seventeen Redskins coaches on Thursday signed a letter opposing the legal filing from the NFL Coaches Association on Wednesday siding with the players in their antitrust lawsuit against the league. “The Washington Redskins coaching staff has not given its backing to the brief filed with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the National Football League Coaches Association. … We stand united with our ownership and the brief does not reflect our thoughts on the matter. We, like everyone else, are hopeful that we can return to playing football. We look forward to a new CBA and welcoming back our players as soon as possible.” By urging a new CBA, the coaches are suggesting the players union’s decertification is not legitimate or it should recertify. Only a union can negotiate a CBA. The amicus brief was notable because it appeared to place the coaches on the side of the players and against the league. It is unclear precisely how the Redskins letter came together, but it was verified by the team’s public relations official, Tony Wyllie. He said every team assistant coach signed, but head coach Mike Shanahan did not because he is part of management (Daniel Kaplan, SportsBusiness Journal). A source said that the Redskins’ coaches “grew concerned that the court document filed by the Coaches Association Wednesday could jeopardize their relationship with management and possibly cost them their jobs.” NFL Coaches Association Exec Dir Larry Kennan “organized the effort that resulted in Wednesday’s filing of a friend-of-the-court brief in the NFL lockout case.” The NFLCA “isn’t an official governing body and doesn’t speak for all coaches as the players association does for players” (WASHINGTON POST, 5/27).
