Okung wants to create a more aggressive union and disrupt the status quo, even if it leads to a lockoutGETTY IMAGES
Chargers OT Russell Okung, who is a member of the NFLPA's executive committee, "plans to run for union president to replace Eric Winston, who must step down in March because he is no longer [on] an active roster," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Okung wants to "create a far more aggressive union, to disrupt the status quo and reverse what he sees as years of concessions, even if this leads to a lockout or strike" when the current CBA expires after the '21 season. Okung wants to "fight for a greater share of the league's revenue, and redefine what owners share with the players." He also is "seeking better health care and bigger pensions for retired players," and wants to "overhaul the wage scale and even review the current union structure." Okung now is the "first player to declare his candidacy," but 49ers CB Richard Sherman, who has "spoken often in defense of players' rights, is also said to be interested." NFL owners want to "lock down a deal as soon as possible to hedge against the possibility of a weakening economy or diminished television ratings during an election year." But to Okung, the owners have "offered paltry concessions because they feel they can outlast the players." Now, the question is "whether Okung's insurgent campaign is a sign of weakness for the players, who have struggled with unity in the past, and whether owners will seize on it to exploit a rift in the union" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/27).
HIDDEN CONSEQUENCES: In Boston, Ben Volin wrote if the NFL "doesn't have a new collective bargaining agreement in place this spring, teams will be able to use both the franchise and transition tags on their free agents." Usually, teams "have to choose one or the other, but the rules are different" in '20 because it is the final year of the current CBA (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/26).
