NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith following his Thursday visit with the Texans for their election of player reps discussed the state of the union's CBA with the league, saying negotiations "never end" and there is "a lot to talk about," according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Smith: "We need a comprehensive improvement in workman's compensation across the league. While some teams are very good about working within the workman's comp system, some teams are not. We successfully fought a number of teams that have tried to eliminate workman's compensation and lifetime medical for guys who get injured at work." He added, "We need to talk about the commissioner discipline issue, obviously. We haven't had any real concrete discussions about that. We have had some discussions about stadium funding for Los Angeles. That's something that was changed in the last collective bargaining agreement to have a more liberal system for stadium credits. That's something they didn't get. They have reached out about increasing credits for stadiums. I'm not sure we're close to any sort of deal on that, but it shows the collective bargaining agreement isn't written in stone. It's something we're constantly trying to work on and improve." Regarding NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's authority to discipline players, Smith said, "We are better off obviously if the league and the union come to an agreement on commissioner discipline. ... The work we are able to accomplish when working together is always better than the work that results from when we are fighting each other. Right now, we're at a place where if the owners want to get something done on commissioner discipline, it will get done. If they don't, it won't get done. We shouldn't be in a world where we're constantly fighting in the courts" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/23).
GOLDEN SLUMBERS: USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes the NFLPA has "filed a grievance against the league and its 32 clubs over the use of sleep monitoring devices." The CBA "allows the NFL to require players to wear sensors and other tracking devices during games and practices to collect performance, medical and safety-related information, as long as the NFLPA gives prior consent." The union argues the use of such technology outside of games and practice "violates the CBA." The Seahawks and Eagles are "among the teams known to use sleep monitoring devices in recent years" (USATODAY.com, 10/22).
