Goodell, Smith Brief Rookies On NFL Labor Progress
Added on Jun 29, 2011 by Jack Thurman in
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They didn’t have any major announcements–like an impending resolution to the NFL lockout–but many took the joint appearance of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith as a positive sign. The two men took questions and updated NFL rookies at a symposium for first year players on Tuesday.
NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah pointed to the appearance of the two leaders of opposing sides in the labor dispute as a positive sign:
“That’s really the significance of this. There’s a lockout happening now, but we’ve got to look forward and consider the necessity to have a positive working relationship with the league.”
The two men have been working together to advance labor negotiatons, but Goodell said that both felt it important to address rookies in person:
“We were taking a break (from negotiations) because we felt it was important to be down here with the players. This is an important few days. We’re going to get back to work.”
Despite a court order to maintain confidentiallity about the negotiations, NFLPA spokesman Atallah said that Smith and Goodell tried to be as forthcoming as possible:
“It was important that the players see this is not personal. It was important that the players see that (Goodell and Smith) can work through their differences in a constructive way, and that hopefully sooner rather than later they’ll be playing football.”
Also present at the rookie symposium was newly rehabilitated former NY Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress is making the rounds trying to rehabilitate his image after his stint in the ‘gray bar motel’ and made the appearance to try and give the impression of being a positive role model. Atallah had this to say about his message to the rookies:
“Plaxico spoke candidly about the impact of personal decisions on a professional career.”
The symposium was scheduled by the NFLPA after the league cancelled their annual rookie orientation due to the lockout. The two-day event covered proper behavior on and off the field, financial planning, dealing with media, and other topics to prepare rookies for a productive future in the NFL.
