With the NFL careening towards one other work stoppage involving recreation officers, the executive directors of the 2 unions most immediately impacted by the event have put their heads collectively.
JC Tretter, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, and Scott Green, the executive director of the NFL Referees Association, met on Tuesday.
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“Player safety requires trained, professional officials on the field,” Tretter stated in a joint assertion. “They manage the game in real time, enforce the rules, and stop situations from escalating. That can’t be replaced by less experienced crews or handled remotely. If player safety truly matters, trained professional officials on the field are not negotiable.”
“Professional officials are trained to control the game in real time,” Green stated. “They are the first responders on the field — maintaining order, enforcing rules, and preventing dangerous situations from escalating.”
It’s one of many first official actions of Tretter in his new job. And it possible will not make the entity with which he’ll ultimately be negotiating very glad.
Still, the gamers are affected by substitute officers. And unions usually assist one another.
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The NFL usually have a propensity to divide and conquer, when that technique fits their pursuits. With the league already making noise that it might wish to change the salary-cap system primarily based on growing bills, the bills related to recreation officers will certainly turn into a part of that system.
The easy response is apparent: There’s greater than sufficient cash to deal with everybody pretty.
“We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached that avoids past disruptions and ensures the game continues to be officiated at the highest level,” Green stated.
So does everybody else. Except for maybe the NFL, which appears to be prepared to embrace utilizing lower-level officers (once more) so as to put the squeeze on the very best obtainable officers.