Attorney Smith elected to succeed Upshaw as NFLPA executive

Cooter · Post by **Cooter** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:59 am

WAILEA, Hawaii -- DeMaurice Smith's ties to presidential power and business experts trumped football experience, leading the Washington D.C.-based attorney to become the NFL Players Association's new executive director.

With two former union presidents and a high-profile sports attorney also as finalists, NFLPA player representatives instead went with an outsider in electing Smith on Sunday. He succeeds the late Gene Upshaw and guides the players into a critical era that includes negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in the shadow of an economic meltdown.

"Guys, let's get to work," Smith told the membership.

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I was personally pulling for Vincent, but I guess those recent allegations got him in the end.

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:17 am

that he's from DC.

NJ-SKINS-FAN · Post by **NJ-SKINS-FAN** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:54 am

i dont know how good this is, i for one would only have to think that a former player would be best b/c he would know EXACTLY what the palyers go through and need.....

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:01 pm

...and a former player would be less likely to work with the NFL about feeing up funds to help former players, particularly a recently-retired former player.
Something has to give here. I think the NFL and the Players Association need to work together to find a way to take care of those who do not have adequate medical coverage. In both the Teamsters and CSEA unions, there are funds contributed by both to help retirees.
Why not the NFLPA?