By Heath Smith
NFLPLAYERS.COM

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith would be the first to say that he doesn’t have a crystal ball to predict the direction of the collective bargaining negotiations with NFL owners.

Smith has seen enough, however, to tell Player Representatives last Tuesday what he thought would be the owners’ CBA negotiating game plan.

“I am absolutely convinced that the default plan is to lock us out in 2011,” Smith said. “If I’m right and we’re not ready, they will test you. They believe this is the year to break the union.”

Smith’s vision for the NFLPA since his election in March has been “One Team, One Locker Room, One Voice.” He has already visited individual teams to share that vision with players. Tuesday’s Board of Player Representatives Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., gave Smith the opportunity to make sure all the Player Reps were clear on that vision as well as update them on other important issues.

Smith told the Reps that while there had not been any significant CBA discussion with the NFL it was important that the players be prepared on all fronts.

“At the end of the day, it’s the age-old saying of hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” said Houston Player Rep Chester Pitts. “The worst is if the owners decide to lock us out. Then what do we do? That is [Smith’s] message and that’s his plan going forward. Everything else is easy if you can be prepared for the worst.”

Part of that preparation includes having a clear understanding of the issues and being able to clearly articulate those issues to the media. NFLPA Assistant Executive Director for External Affairs George Atallah discussed the strategy for discussing CBA issues with the media.

“The media is everywhere,” said New York Giants Player Rep Shaun O’Hara. “It happens fast and there is a lot of volume. I think the main focus is to try and stay away from those buzz words that can distract people and cause you to deviate from the goal.

“The main message right now is the CBA and the negotiations. It’s about preparing for the lockout and preparing for our stance and what we could possibly face. It’s also about understanding the responsibility that comes with all of it.”

One of the things Atallah stressed to the Player Reps was the importance of making sure the core issues stay at the forefront of CBA discussions with the media.

“We have our talking points, but it’s not that difficult,” Pitts said. “If you really think about it, it’s simple. The owners decided that the agreement we signed was not a good one. We can talk all day about why you would sign an agreement if you thought it wasn’t a good one, but if you opt out of an agreement, the onus is on you to explain why.

“There is no way to do that without audited financial statements. We’re spinning our wheels if they can’t produce that. What business transaction transpires without audited financial statements?”

With a possible lockout still two years away, Smith discussed ways in which the players could financially prepare themselves in advance. One idea is the “25/25 Campaign” in which players would save 25 percent of their net salary for the next two years.

“It is absolutely doable,” Pitts said. “The minimum salary for the NFL puts you in the top one percentile of salary and wages of the United States. So yes, it can be done. It is just going to take guys like me going to the four or five guys on the team that could be at risk, sitting down with them and making sure they understand the importance of putting this amount of money away.

“And that’s the minimum. Put away way more. Don’t take on any debt that you don’t have to have. If you haven’t purchased a house yet, it’s okay. Wait another year. Why not wait. It is better to be safe than to be sorry.”

The Player Reps were given a lot of information to take back to their teammates and now have the charge of making sure that this important information reaches every NFL player.

“I think the Reps are more empowered than they have ever been with the bank of knowledge that he has given out,” said Tampa Bay Player Rep Kevin Carter. “I think having a preemptive strategy going into things also helps. Guys are going to have different opinions about where we are, where we should go and how we should do things.

“The good thing about Smith is that he outlines everything that is out there. He is looking at it from all different angles. He’s doing a good job of conveying his thoughts on all those different angles and how we can preemptively ward off some of the things that can hurt us.”