The NFLPA this week "began contacting players found eligible to receive payments from its lockout fund," and those payments "will begin on April 15," according to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com. The NFLPA "established a fund to help players in need, and the accounting department from the NFLPA has begun sending out notification letters and direct deposit slips to players who have been found eligible." The letters and forms going out to players include "information on receiving payments, beginning on April 15 and spanning six payments or the duration of the lockout." An NFLPA source said that the "maximum payments to an individual player would total $60,000, to be paid out this offseason during the lockout." During a recent press briefing at the NFLPA annual meeting, Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith "acknowledged the organization had a fund established to help players in need but declined to divulge any details about specifics of how deep it is or how much individuals could receive from it." The fund is "meant to help locked out players make mortgage and car payments and provide a form of income at a time when they are not being paid" (NFL.com, 3/29). ESPN's John Clayton said the "message is at least they're prepared for a rainy day, and it looks like the rain is coming with the fact that there's no settlement that's coming due." Clayton: "It just goes to show that at least the players' association, which is now a trade association, did have some plans to take care of the players" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 3/29).
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Miller is one of players who is attached
to class-action antitrust suit against NFL |
RISKY BUSINESS: In N.Y., Judy Battista notes former Texas A&M LB and NFL Draft prospect Von Miller "surprised much of the NFL ... when he agreed to let his name be used in the class-action antitrust lawsuit players filed against the NFL after the players union dissolved itself March 11." Grouped among NFL players such as Patriots QB Tom Brady and Colts QB Peyton Manning, Miller is the "representative for college players, a blazingly fast figurehead for the lawsuit's attack on the rookie salary pool." He is "expected to be in a federal courtroom in Minneapolis on April 6 with the rest of the plaintiffs when players ask for an injunction to stop the owners' lockout." Miller: "I didn't get involved in this for the spotlight. That wasn't even on the agenda. I got involved to be a part of great guys like Peyton Manning and Mike Vrabel. I got into it for those guys. It's a great feeling to have that I'm doing something for them. I enjoy being a great teammate." Texas A&M football coach Mike Sherman said that Miller is a "people-pleaser," suggesting that "perhaps that was why Miller said yes after he was first approached around the time of the Super Bowl about joining the lawsuit." Miller said that he had "mixed emotions when he was asked to be a part of the lawsuit and he and his family considered it for three or four weeks before consenting." CBS NFL analyst Charley Casserly said that teams "will undoubtedly ask Miller why he got involved in the lawsuit." But Casserly and several other former or current NFL personnel evaluators indicated that they "do not think Miller's draft position will be affected" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/30).
HEADING TO THE BIG APPLE: ESPN's Clayton reported former Alabama WR Julio Jones and former Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn yesterday accepted invitations to attend the NFL Draft, just one day after the NFLPA said it was not planning on holding an alternative event at the same time, and more players are expected to join Jones and Clayborn "because now there's no interference, there's no tension." Clayton: "It's a matter of do you want to claim this moment or not, along with the fact that you can spend time with the trade association for at least three days. So in many ways, it's kind of the best of all worlds. What ended up happening, the court of public opinion kind of went against the idea of trying to boycott (and) rob the players of those moments" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 3/29).
GIBBS WEIGHS IN: NASCAR team owner and former NFL coach Joe Gibbs yesterday said that the NFL lockout "disturbs him and he hopes players and owners can settle things before football suffers." Gibbs: "There's too much at stake. They may miss a few preseason games, but I think they'll get this done because otherwise, I think it would hurt the sport" (AP, 3/29). Meanwhile, Titans Owner Bud Adams Monday guaranteed there will be a season, and ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "I love his guarantee, but not because it means anything for real. It's telling me where Bud Adams' head is at. At his age, 88-years-old, what's a lockout to him? He's still spending money from 1975. He's ready to get back on the field." But Denver Post columnist Woody Paige: "I'm very frightened by Bud Adams' guarantee. The last time he spoke he told us that the coach and the quarterback were going to work out things with the Titans. How did that work out? They're both gone now!” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/29).
