Demaurice Smith going off the deep end?

[MHS831]

“We are at war!” Smith reportedly “yelled” at 20 new player representatives from various NFL teams.

“Nobody gets strong without fighting,” Smith said. “Nobody stays strong without fighting. Nobody negotiates their way to strength. Nobody talks their way to a good deal. Nobody sits down and just has miraculous things happen.”

--PFT

It seems to me that the union doesn't have any cards to play, so Smith has decided to threaten and sue before negotiating. He is trying to fight this in the press but lawsuits and militaristic battle cries are no way to win public sympathies. This guy has lost his way, forgotten his purpose, and has become the Rex Ryan of the legal profession, which is saying something. He should be fired, and I think that will happen within a few weeks. Read the article--diary of a madman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/business/23nfl.html?_r=4&pagewanted=1&adxnnl=1&ref=business&adxnnlx=1295802068-Kxyb2DwphuoqftBQ/JYdOA

[Kevin Greene]

NFLPA may need a new rep.

[Kevin Greene]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/01/pittsburgh-steelers-dan-rooney-is-concerned-about-lack-of-progress-in-nfl-labor-negotiations.html

“I just think the negotiators should get it together and start doing what they should do, and get a deal,” he said, adding, “If they sit down and work things out, I think they could have a deal rather quickly.”

Rooney said the CBA over the years has gotten “a little too rich on one side” –- meaning the players’ side -– and indicated an agreement might have been reached sooner but for the 2008 death of Gene Upshaw, the former executive director of the NFL Players Assn.

“I think if Gene Upshaw were here, he’s someone I could talk to about this,” he said. “He’s someone who was for the game at all the time.”

Asked whether the owners’ lack of familiarity with current union head DeMaurice Smith has led to “a distrust” that’s complicating negotiations, Rooney said: “I don’t know the personalities. There is maybe distrust. Maybe dislike is a better word. But that’s beyond. You have a situation like this, you’ve got to get a deal. You’ve got to forget personalities.”

[pantherfan49]

And who else thought this thread was about Steve Smith?

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

And who else thought this thread was about Steve Smith?

lol I did. I thought it was perfectly in character for him until I realized it was about DeMaurice Smith.

[Neylus]

And who else thought this thread was about Steve Smith?

...and thought well there goes 2011.

[Nicbsbll2]

And who else thought this thread was about Steve Smith?

Same here.

[MHS831]

Same here.

unintentionally misleading. We don't need another STEVE Smith thread, do we?

[mav1234]

kinda scary that this is the guy that plays a major role in figuring out how to get football next season.

[Urrymonster]

No surprise really. He isn't seeing what is good for the game, just what is good for more money for the players. He is a lawyer and he will defend his point of view regardless of how dishonest it is.

[Snake]

This is a sign of weakness. He knows the owners are going to take the last offered deal by them and force the players to negotiate or strike. He is just trying to get them to follow his misguided plan.

[TylerDurden]

I thought he seemed like a good candidate for the players union when they voted him in, or whatever the process was, but the more he's said and the stance that he's taken... smh... I think he is caught up in being cool with them more than he is in representing them. He wants to be "one of the guys" and is gonna ride negotiations into an oblivion to do so.

[Cavscout]

“We are at war!” Smith reportedly “yelled” at 20 new player representatives from various NFL teams.

“Nobody gets strong without fighting,” Smith said. “Nobody stays strong without fighting. Nobody negotiates their way to strength. Nobody talks their way to a good deal. Nobody sits down and just has miraculous things happen.”

Seems to me that he is anti-"labor peace". Maybe he is just trying to make a name for himself rather than do what he gets paid to do...negotiate and compromise.:shocked:

[Jangler]

this violent rhetoric needs to stop, before somebody gets hurt.