Most elections have a front-runner and an underdog, as is the case for the March vote for executive director of the NFL Players Association, with incumbent DeMaurice Smith the former and challenger Sean Gilbert the latter.
And now, the election may have its gadfly candidate as well: James Acho, a 44-year-old lawyer who represents NFL retirees, who announced his candidacy last week.
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Lawyer James Acho has represented retired NFL players.
Photo by: COURTESY OF JAMES ACHO
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Acho is out front about a few things going in — including that he knows little about the collective-bargaining agreement signed by the NFL and NFL players in 2011.
“[T]o be upfront, I have to familiarize myself with much of the CBA. Obviously I have a working knowledge, but it’s been awhile,” he wrote in an email last week. “I was just approached this weekend and made the decision so right now dealing with the formalities.”
Acho’s main plank is lifetime medical benefits for players. Currently, players’ medical benefits expire five years after they stop playing.
Acho is a partner with Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, through which he has worked pro bono for the NFL Alumni Association. He was approached about the NFLPA post by retirees.
“For the better part of 15 years, I have dedicated much of my law practice to advocating improved medical benefits for retired players, and I have represented many who were wrongly denied pensions or benefits,” Acho wrote last week in a letter sent to NFLPA President Eric Winston to announce his candidacy.
It’s unclear if Acho will get before the players at the vote meeting, though. To do so, he needs the endorsement of three player representatives. The 32 player representatives will vote in mid-March.
While there are rumblings that other candidates might emerge as well, so far it’s only Gilbert (a former NFL player) and now Acho who have announced their intentions to try to unseat Smith.
Smith was first elected in 2009. He was re-elected in 2012.
Gilbert contends the CBA unfairly swung revenue from players to owners and he contends he has evidence of collusion that can be used to end the 10-year deal early.
