Tag: DeMaurice Smith

5 facts about new NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell, who will succeed DeMaurice Smith

Howell’s appointment is a VERY big deal and will likely have a major impact on the NFL.

The NFLPA will soon have a new leader of its labor union.

On Wednesday, the organization revealed that it had elected Llloyd Howell as its new executive director. Howell will be DeMaurice Smith’s successor, who has held the leadership position since being unanimously elected in 2009. Smith will continue to hold the role until sometime near the end of 2024, and then Howell will officially take over.

This is not light news by any means. The leader of the NFL’s only labor union is a significant appointment that can and will likely have a major influence on the league’s dealings. For one, among other essential tasks, it will be Howell at the forefront of the NFLPA’s negotiations by the time the current collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2030. Aside from whoever the NFLPA president is at that time, Howell will be the players’ primary advocate.

And as we’ve seen in the past, lockouts are very possible in those situations, making Howell’s future approach hold that much more weight.

If this is the first time you’re hearing about Powell, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few things you should definitely know about the guy who will soon steer the wheel for the NFLPA.

Lloyd Howell named new NFLPA executive director

Lloyd Howell will become the fourth NFLPA president, succeeding DeMaurice Smith.

The NFL Players Association has only had three directors in their history with DeMauirce Smith being the latest. With his contract set to expire, the NFLPA is naming Lloyd Howell his successor.

Howell has been the treasurer and chief financial officer for Booz Allen, handling financial statements and both their civil and commercial business.

In a press release, Roger Goodell sent his congratulations to Howell.

“I want to congratulate Lloyd Howell on his election as Executive Director of the NFL Players Association and to thank DeMaurice Smith for his continued partnership and unstinting work on behalf of NFL players.  We look forward to working with Lloyd and his team to continue growing the game and making it better, safer, and more accessible and attractive to fans around the world.”​

Howell will take over for Smith by the end of 2024.

NFLPA introduces Lloyd Howell as Executive Director

The NFLPA has elected a new Executive Director, Lloyd Howell

The NFLPA will have a new Executive Director.

Lloyd Howell was introduced on Wednesday, replacing DeMaurice Smith.

“The opportunity to represent the players is a privilege,” Howell said in a statement. “I look forward to building relationships and the solidarity amongst our players. The history and strength of this institution is impressive, and I look forward to driving our bold goals and achieving them together in the future.”

Howell recently was chief financial officer and treasurer at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Smith held the title since 2009. He offered a comment:

Commissioner Roger Goodell weighed in on the news.

 

Jon Gruden admits disparaging Roger Goodell in emails

More troubling emails were sent by Jon Gruden, these ripping NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden has another email problem.

On the heels of a Wall Street Journal report earlier this week that Gruden wrote a racist trope about NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith in 2011, it was revealed Sunday the coach admitted to disparaging NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in other messages.

The ESPN report said the league would not specifically say what Gruden wrote about Goodell. However, Gruden fessed up to Chris Mortensen.

“I was in a bad frame of mind at the time [in 2011], and I called Roger Goodell a [expletive] in one of these emails too,” the Raiders coach told ESPN on Friday night. “They were keeping players and coaches from doing what they love with a lockout. There also were a lot of things being reported publicly about the safety of the sport that I love. I was on a mission with high school football [in the Tampa, Florida, area] during that time, and there were a lot of parents who were scared about letting their kids play football. It just didn’t sit well with me.”

One powerful voice is calling for the NFL to handle the situation with a strong response.

“The insensitive remarks made by Jon Gruden about DeMaurice Smith are indicative of the racism that exists on many levels of professional sports,” Rod Graves, the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance,  said in a statement Sunday morning. “Furthermore, it reveals that the journey for African Americans and other minorities in sports, is riddled with irrepressible mindsets at the highest level. It is our hope that the League and team ownership will address this matter with a remedy commensurate with these painful words. This is yet another inflection point in a society fraught with cynical social blinders, absent of respect for the intellectual capacity and leadership of minorities. When will it end?”

Gruden’s emails also included harsh words for a handful of team owners who were involved in the 2011 labor disagreement that led to a lockout.

NFL investigates Raiders head coach Jon Gruden for racist comment about DeMaurice Smith in 2011

Raiders coach Jon Gruden is the subject of an NFL investigation regarding a racist comment in 2011 email about NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith

The NFL is investigating Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden for a racist comment sent in 2011 email, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Gruden sent the following email about NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith, per the report:

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” Gruden wrote per the article by WSJ’s Andrew Beaton.

“I’m really sorry,” Gruden told Beaton regarding the email, telling him he didn’t recall sending it.

The news came out in a WSJ report detailing how the league is examining 650,000 emails.

Smith offered a response on Friday:

“This is not the first racist comment that I’ve heard and it probably will not be the last. This is a thick skin job for someone with dark skin, just like it always has been for many people who look like me and work in corporate America. You know people are sometimes saying things behind your back that are racist just like you see people talk and write about you using thinly coded and racist language.

“Racism like this comes from the fact that I’m at the same table as they are and they don’t think someone who looks like me belongs. I’m sorry my family has to see something like this but I would rather they know. I will not let it define me.”

The NFL released its statement:

The news comes days after an ESPN report Smith’s job could be in jeopardy.

The NFLPA’s executive committee took a vote Tuesday night to determine whether Smith should be allowed to remain in the job he has held for the past 12 years, sources said. According to the NFLPA’s constitution, a unanimous approval vote by the 14-member committee would have kept Smith in the job, likely on a new three-year contract. However, the vote was evenly split at 7-7, sources said.

Smith’s job status is now in the hands of the NFLPA’s 32 team player representatives, who have a conference call vote tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. ET Friday. If 22 of the 32 player reps vote to retain Smith, he will be effectively reelected and would negotiate a new contract. If he does not get 22 votes, the job of NFLPA executive director will be officially open, and other candidates could run for it at the NFLPA’s annual meeting in March.

Key dates for Ravens’ 2021 offseason program announced

The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to get better as a team in the weeks leading up to the season. Key dates for the team were announced

The Baltimore Ravens have been using the 2021 offseason to workout and continue to improve their skills. There have been countless pictures and videos of Ravens players putting work in as they chase their goals.

Part of getting better also involves the workouts and practices in the months and weeks leading up to the season. The NFL released the dates for minicamps and OTAs for each team, and Baltimore will look to get to work and get better during the time they have.

Although this looks like a lot, players don’t technically have to report until mandatory minicamp, which for the Ravens is set from June 15-17. Baltimore has already released a statement saying that they won’t be attending in-person voluntary workouts, something that NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith has been advocating for.

Regardless of when players show up, the fact remains that they’ve been working hard to get better. For Baltimore, the past few seasons have resulted in disappointing endings. With all of the effort they’ve put into improving during the offseason, once the team gets together and starts practicing, they’ll be well ahead of the curve.

Report: NFL salary cap at $182.5 million in 2021

The NFL salary cap will be $182.5 million in 2021, a decrease from 2020.

The NFL salary cap was expected to decline in 2021, and now the official figures have been released.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the salary cap for the 2021 season will be $182.5 million, down from $198.2 million in 2020.

The numbers for the 2021 salary cap were based on the revenue generated during the 2020 season, which saw inequities in stadium attendance with some cities allowing fans at a reduced capacities and some cities not allowing fans at all.

“[The] salary cap is this year what the salary cap is this year because it was based on a projection from last year’s revenue,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told reporters on July 17, 2020. “Next year’s salary cap will be projected on revenue this year if nothing happens, if the [collective bargaining agreement] operates the way the CBA is going to operate.”

For the salary cap-strapped Houston Texans, a drop in the salary cap is not what they needed as they seek to rebuild from a 4-12 season without their first and second-round picks to use.

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NFLPA Executive Director expects salary cap to be above $175 million floor

DeMaurice Smith of the NFLPA believes the NFL’s 2021 salary cap will be more than the $175 million floor.

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The NFL’s salary cap number following a season played mostly without fans in stadiums was always going to be an issue. A number that tends to rise about $10 million each year was more than likely to drop and cause salary cap crunches for a number of teams. While the league and the NFL Player’s Association agreed on a $175 million cap floor – about $23 million below the $198.1 million cap in 2020.

However, there could be some good news on the financial front for cash-strapped teams. The NFLPA’s executive director DeMaurice Smith on Sunday in a press conference with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he expects the cap to come in above the agreed upon floor.

This jibes with an earlier report from Pelissero where he indicated owners were optimistic about the cap coming in closer to $185 million.

While that still represents a steep drop from the previous season, an additional $10 million is significant for a team like the 49ers that has upwards of 40 players due to hit free agency and a couple key starters to try and bring back.

Over the Cap has the 49ers slated for $9,540,669 in cap room if the cap comes in at $176 million. That means they’d be at $18,540,669 if the number lands at $185 million. Just over $18 million in room isn’t an astronomical figure, but it certainly gives them some needed additional flexibility.

General manager John Lynch in his season-ending press conference told reporters the team was working as though the salary cap number would come in at the floor.

“We’re operating under the premise of the floor, which is 175 (million dollars),” Lynch said on Jan. 4 in a video conference. “We felt like that was best to operate off of that and kind of formulate our plans off of that. If it’s anything on top, that’s gravy for us.”

There are enough ways to maneuver and manipulate the cap that by the time the dust settles San Francisco should have enough space to fill out their roster relatively comfortably. However, if the number stays down around that $175 million floor, it’ll mean the 49ers have a few more tough financial decisions to make.

NFLPA approves the Texans’ Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan

The NFLPA has approved the Houston Texans’ Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan.

The Houston Texans are ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the NFL as the league’s union has approved their Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan.

According to a tweet on Wednesday, the NFLPA shared the status for all 32 teams’ IDERs. The Texans were one of eight teams to have their plan approved by the NFLPA.

The IDERs were a part of making the work conditions safe for the players, and one of the questions defensive end J.J. Watt said players still had as the league geared up for training camp.

According to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, the NFL has the right to open up camp. It is up to the union to hold the league accountable relative to workplace conditions.

“They have the exclusive right, just like somebody who owns a plant, when does it open, when does it close, what our hours are,” Smith said. “The [collective bargaining agreement] dictates wages, hours, working conditions, and generally and explicitly in this case we’ve made provisions about being in a position to approve the infectious disease response plans for the teams.”

With the Texans’ IDER already approved by the union, it helps the defending AFC South champions get to back to football quicker.

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Report: Entire Texans preseason could be canceled

The entire Houston Texans preseason could be canceled, according to a recent report where the NFL is offering the NFLPA zero exhibition games.

The entire slate of Houston Texans preseason games could be canceled.

In a bid to get the NFLPA to sign off on the NFL’s plans to start training camp and the regular season on time, the league reportedly offered the union zero preseason games.

That would mean the Houston Texans’ Aug. 29 tilt with the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome would be nixed, and the first time the Texans laced them up would be for real on Sept. 10 versus the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

As the old saying goes, “when they say it isn’t about the money, it’s about the money.” In this case, it’s been about the preseason games with little mention about the money. However, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports the NFL and NFLPA have made strides in their discussions about the financial side of the 2020 season.

The salary cap for the 2020 season was based on the revenues from the 2019 season. With each NFL team projected to lose $70 million, the 2021 salary cap could be greatly affected.

“That means that the salary cap next year could be something around $120 million, and that would mean a number of players could be cut,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. “A lot of players who have salaries that would push a team above that salary cap would be forced to renegotiate, drastically renegotiate, their contracts or they would be cut. So, it goes back to option A.”

The “option B” is that the league and union, “try to work through estimates of what the decline would be and figure out a way to avoid a precipitous drop in the salary cap for next year,” according to Smith.

Said Smith: “And therefore protect contracts, protect players, but also remember protect their benefits because the way that the cap works and the way that our overall compensation package works is if there is a drop in those things, there could be or will be a significant impact on benefits as well.”

If the NFL and NFLPA can come to an agreement on the financials, pro football’s regular season could kickoff without a hitch, pandemic permitting.

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