Rodgers said his "no" vote for the proposed CBA was based in part on concerns from his teammatesGETTY IMAGES
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was "one of the 14 dissenters" from the group of 32 player reps who voted on passing along the proposed CBA to a full player vote, and yesterday he "made it clear that he was voting not only on his own behalf but also based on concerns among the players who elected" him as the team's union rep, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Rodgers explained his thinking in a Twitter post, and "perhaps most telling was his opening line, in which he said his 'decision to vote 'No' is based off conversations I have had with the men in my locker room that I'm tasked to represent.'" Packers OT David Bakhtiari "thanked Rodgers after he posted his explanation." Meanwhile, reports are that Rodgers was "a force" in Tuesday's player rep meeting (ESPN.com, 2/26). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote Rodgers' "primary concern seems to come from the lack of information provided to the board of player representatives regarding the details of the deal." But he also is "trying to reduce the offseason program dramatically" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/26).
VARYING DEGREES OF NO: In Seattle, Bob Condotta reports Seahawks QB Russell Wilson "waded willingly into the CBA debate" with a "tweet saying the NFL is lagging behind the NBA and MLB in how it treats players, ending with an emphatic statement that 'I VOTE NO.'" The proposed new CBA calls for an "increase in the total percentage of league revenue devoted to player salaries to up to 48.5% once the league approves a 17-game schedule." But many players have "called for a 50-50 split, and Wilson's tweet is likely a reference to the fact that MLB (48-52%) and the NBA (50%) give a higher percentage of revenue to the players." Wilson also may have been "referencing that MLB and the NBA have guaranteed, or mostly guaranteed, contracts" (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/27). ESPN.com's Brooke Pryor noted Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey "posted a strong disapproval of the deal to his Instagram story." He said, "I vote no. Our NFLPA, the dudes at the top, the leaders, that's f'ing bs. F that. They're not looking out for the best of the players. If y'all want my vote, the Pouncey twins vote No" (ESPN.com, 2/26). Pouncey added, “If any player on any one of our teams, if y’all hurting for rent money or anything while we go through this lockout, call us” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/27). ESPN's Domonique Foxworth noted while Wilson "came off as someone who's kind of fly by night and just throwing an opinion out there," what Pouncey said "is real" (“Get Up,” ESPN, 2/27).
OTHER STARS SPEAK OUT: In DC, Des Bieler notes Vikings WR Stefon Diggs, Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey and Ravens QB Robert Griffin III were among other NFL players who said that they would vote against the deal. Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu also "appeared to be getting at the same sentiment with a cryptic tweet" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/27). ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said, "It's smart for the big names to come out and kind of have a voice for the younger players" ("Get Up," ESPN, 2/27). But PFT's Florio said players who are involved in the union "get upset" when star players "do a drive by and (give) kind of a vague 'no' without any specifics." Florio: "It galvanizes those guys to get the word out as to why they did what they did. It upsets them. They feel like they're being challenged, and they're being disrespected. ... In a weird sort of way, it actually helps the process of ratification to have these star players kind of recklessly say 'no' because it forces the guys who did the deal to work harder to sell it" ("PFT," NBCSN, 2/27).
