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Leagues and Governing Bodies

NFL Lockout Watch, Day 136: Smith, Goodell Lead Sides Toward Agreement

The NFLPA's confidence that it "will get the necessary votes to recommend the CBA" today is "due in part to the continued working relationship" between NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, according to a source cited by Clayton & Mortensen of ESPN.com. A source indicated that Smith and Goodell "have been working with each other directly as the sides near an agreement." Smith reportedly "has pledged to Goodell that he will also expedite the remaining issues before the first preseason game is played." Smith has "personally taken on much of the work on the actual CBA-related documents, with his legal team, including NFLPA lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, assisting." The source said that Smith "took on this responsibility as a show of good faith, because the NFL's management council executive committee had been skeptical due to its prior experience with Kessler as legal counsel" (ESPN.com, 7/25). CBSSPORTS.com's Mike Freeman cited a source as saying that the relationship between Smith and Goodell was the "key to breakthrough" in NFL CBA talks. The two "had become close over the past few months and that relationship paid dividends over the weekend." A source indicated that Goodell assured Smith that he "could trust ownership and Smith told Goodell he could deliver the votes and get the new CBA approved" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/23). In DC, Mark Maske reports NFL sources are crediting Goodell and Smith "with forcefully pushing the talks in the late stages toward a resolution." The sources said that both men "took a hands-on approach in leading the talks between the two sides working toward a resolution" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/25).

TAKING CONTROL OF TALKS: SI.com's Don Banks wrote "credit belongs" to Goodell and Smith for leading the NFL and players toward a resolution. They "wouldn't let the setbacks suffered late Thursday afternoon and evening grow into a divide that killed the deal." Banks: "Goodell and Smith had difficult and very different jobs to do at times in this saga, but they're both going to get their due for shepherding their constituencies through a situation that could have unraveled at several different points" (SI.com, 7/24). In N.Y., Judy Battista reported Smith's "bond with Goodell has grown during negotiations -- they have had several previously undisclosed meals together -- even as both wrestled to keep their groups, both of which had hard-liners, on track." As the CBA negotiations "took on the most difficult issues, the two were in touch regularly, even when the sides were not negotiating directly" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/23). In Ottawa, Mark Sutcliffe noted while Smith and Goodell "don't have a long history together, they seem to have formed a bond that will shape not only this negotiation, but the next decade of professional football." It is "too early to call the relationship a partnership, but the two men clearly have respect for each other" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 7/24).

A WIN-WIN SITUATION: Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie said, "It represents a real successful story for both Roger and De because to be able to -- in today’s world of sports -- have a 10-year labor agreement is unprecedented." Chiefs Chair Clark Hunt said, "Roger walked into a fairly difficult situation shortly after he became the commissioner. ... He had a very, very tough job. But he kept us all together, and that is awfully hard to do with any 32 people, much less the 32 owners in the NFL." Lurie said that he told Goodell he "respected his poise and focus." Lurie: "He’s a person who is strong-willed but doesn’t wear it on his sleeve. He really stayed the course, and he kept his eye on the ball." As for Smith, Vikings DE Brian Robison admitted he was "a little skeptical" initially about the NFLPA leader. Robison: "He seemed like a politician; they’re known for saying one thing and doing another thing. But now that I’ve gotten to know him, he’s done a heck of a job working with us and getting the things that we’ve stressed in this deal" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/24). FS SOUTHWEST's Matt Mosley wrote, "Smith has done his job well, and the players have won on several fronts in these negotiations" (FOXSPORTSSOUTHWEST.com, 7/23). SPORTING NEWS' David Steele writes under the header, "DeMaurice Smith Proves More Than Capable Standing Up To Owners." Steele: "Smith did his job, the one he was hired to do. Right down to the very end" (SPORTING NEWS TODAY, 7/25). Former MLBPA Exec Dir Marvin Miller said of Smith, "He's done a remarkable job in a short time. He's changed the culture there, and he's developed a cadre of leadership among the players. He was properly appalled by the owners' attitudes from the beginning. He didn't have to be taught that this was a terrible thing they were doing" (ESPNNY.com, 7/24).

Owners credit Richardson (l) for keeping group
unified during negotiations for new CBA
TOP CAT: In Charlotte, Joseph Person reported Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson's peers "credit him with keeping the owners unified and helping put together a 10-year labor deal." Giants President & CEO John Mara said of Richardson, "He provided tremendous leadership to our ownership group. He earned the respect of the players. We would not have gotten even close to where we are now without him." Richardson was "tasked with keeping the other 31 owners informed of the progress of the talks." He said, "It was the constant communication with the owners. It was seven days a week you were calling. One Friday I had like 38 phone calls, I either made them or received them. The next day it was 35. Sunday came around it was 17." After the CBA is finalized, Richardson is "expected to relinquish most of his NFL leadership roles and focus on the Panthers." Owners had wondered how the 75-year-old Richardson "would hold up under the stress and workload two years removed from his heart transplant." Hunt said, "We were all a little bit worried about him. I don't think we were worried that he would not be there for us. But we were worried that he would make it through the (health) challenges that he was having" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/24). Also in Charlotte, Tom Sorensen wrote, "The agreement is a testament to Jerry Richardson" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/23).

MORE KEY PLAYERS: SI.com's Peter King reports several NFLPA sources "singled out Patriots owner Bob Kraft for his role in getting momentum going when there was very little last spring." One member of the players' negotiation team said, "He told us, 'I'm not going to hope either side makes a bad deal, because then our relationship suffers, and then the whole business suffers. And my family's going to own this team for years and years. We want to see it healthy for both sides.' That registered with us. He's a real deal-maker" (SI.com, 7/25). In Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter noted Falcons President Rich McKay "was heavily involved in the negotiations." During one stretch when the sides "were working through the rookie salary system, he spent 15 consecutive days" in DC (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/24). CBSSPORTS.com's Clark Judge wrote Ravens CB Domonique Foxworth and Colts C Jeff Saturday, both NFLPA Exec Committee members, were among the "unsung heroes" of the NFL negotiations. One source said the two "worked their asses off" during the process (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/24).

YOU CAN CALL ME AL: In San Jose, Tim Kawakami wrote the Raiders abstaining from last Thursday's vote was "not a low moment for the franchise." Even if the CBA proposal, as expected, "eventually turns into the framework for a deal," Raiders Owner Al Davis "deserves some amount of credit for willfully setting himself apart." Kawakami: "We don’t know exactly why Davis ordered up the abstention, and we won’t know until or unless he tells us. Davis could have been seeking a greater stream of revenue-sharing earmarked for the Raiders and other low-earning teams; heck, he could have wanted an offer that’s tougher on the players. There’s a chance Davis refused to vote for the proposal because it allows fourth-year players to head into free agency" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/23).

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