The relationship between the NFL and NFLPA can be described as "icy at best" since NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith took over in '09, but last Monday, the sides announced "two collaborations," according to Ben Volin of the BOSTON GLOBE. The first collaboration was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "arbitrarily" moving Browns WR Josh Gordon "down from Stage 3 of the league's drug program and allowing him to return after serving a four-game suspension." The second came a couple hours later when the NFL and NFLPA "announced a joint program to punish teams that don't follow the league's concussion protocol." They also both announced a "jointly created Field Surface & Performance Committee, which will 'perform research and advise the parties on injury prevention, improved testing methods, and the adoption of tool and techniques to evaluate and improve field surface performance and playability.'" Volin, on the recent détente, wrote, "Both sides realize that the constant bickering does neither of them any good. It detracts from the product on the field, makes both sides look petty, and generally shines a negative light on a very profitable business. ... Second, the owners are already starting to think about their next labor deal. The current one expires in the spring of 2021, but the owners have already discussed extending it, given that it has worked out very well, financially, in their favor. The owners are trying to convince the union that this is a good deal for both sides and I think what we're seeing now is the owners extending some olive branches to the NFLPA as part of an ultimate goal of extending the CBA" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31).
