1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: shorten up the season? How do we present football to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the audience of the future. I don't think that most 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. Michael vaugh The 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: future of IndyCar racing is looking bright. Scott Sashnik very 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 1: basic math here, more bidders means more money. Evan Nobody Williams. 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: The team value has essentially quadruples. And the leaders in 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Time to bring in our guest hal 9 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: stand Runner, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Betman, Atlanta Braves 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: president Derek Schiller, Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Michael Bark, I'm Evan 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: Novie Williams, and I'm Scott Shnik. Every weekend, this time 13 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: plus Mondays and Wednesdays, we explore the big money issues 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: in the world of sports. Today we speak with Demorris Smith, 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: executive director of the NFL Players Association. There will be 16 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: plenty to discuss with him, including negotiations for the next 17 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: collective bargaining agreement, the skyrocketing valuations or franchises, and the 18 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: power of players in the NFL that is coming up. 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: But let's look at some of our top stories of 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: the week, beginning with the Los Angeles Dodgers completing the 21 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: sale of a minority steak in the team. But you know, 22 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: that's a fun one with the Dodgers because we don't 23 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: know who the buyer is. We don't know how much 24 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: the buyers paid, we don't know the steak. But what 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: I can tell you for sure is that the Dodgers, 26 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: who have been looking for an investment, have closed a 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: deal to sell a limited partnership to what we understand, 28 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: our two folks. We don't know who they are, but 29 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: knowing the Dodgers, I'm very interested to see when it 30 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: comes out what sort of strategic partnership these folks will break. 31 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: The majority stake and the control stays with Mark Walter 32 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: and Todd Bowley, the Googaneim partners who bought this for 33 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: such a huge valuation a couple of years ago. Um. 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: But you know, one of the most probably the number 35 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: two most valuable team in baseball behind the Yankees. Um, 36 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: we think in evaluation somewhere in the mid three billion. 37 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: You think that's kind of roughly where that where this 38 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: shakes out. Well, you know, a while back, I'd told 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: that they were telling investors the valuation was two five, 40 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: But of course that was a year plus ago. I mean, 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: it's been going on for a while. You know, they've 42 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: toyed with some South Korean investors. Um, if you're looking forward, 43 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: you'd have to guess that. Yet the valuation only went up. 44 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: And and just so listeners know, the valuation often for 45 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: a minority steak sale is lower than the valuation would 46 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: be if they sold this thing and its entirety, for 47 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: reasons that we've discussed many times. Don't you discuss it 48 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: one more time. You know, these guys are not getting 49 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: control of the team. You know, they're not getting really 50 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: any say, they might get a board seat depending on 51 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: how big their steak is. But you know, in a 52 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: lot of ways, this is a kind of a glorified 53 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: season ticket and something to put on a business card. 54 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: In a lot of ways, well, this is just an 55 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: investment to these people, because like you said, I mean, 56 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: you know, I can't make any decisions and I get 57 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: to go and see the game, maybe depending on how 58 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: much at pony up. So hopefully they're trying to sell 59 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: their steak. Once they do sell it, one day to 60 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: make more money. Yes, our next topic, let's talk about 61 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: a decision this week from the Santa Clara Stadium Authority 62 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: you to no longer allow the San Francisco forty nine 63 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: is to manage Levi Stadium for events outside of the NFL. Right, 64 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: Normally we get a story like this and I'm like, okay, 65 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: let me, let me digest exactly what happened there. I say, 66 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: even tell the world about it. But I'll take a 67 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: shot here here as I can tell Mr Novi Williams 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: that the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, they are taking the power, 69 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: trying to take the power away from the team to 70 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: manage the stadium. And this is important for non NFL events. 71 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: And it seems in reading the story from the local paper, 72 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: and I had not been aware of all this negativity, 73 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: but it seems as if there have been a slew 74 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: of disagreements between the forty niners and the stadium authority. 75 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: At one point, the team had to pay more money 76 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: for rent when they had been asking for less. There's 77 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: a whole how much they're asking for six hundred and 78 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: forty three thousand dollars. In March, the forty nine were 79 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: issued a breach of contract by the city over six 80 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: hundred and forty three thousand dollar bill for floor cleaning. 81 00:03:57,720 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: That's a lot of cleaning. That's a lot of floor 82 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: But it just seems that the relationship is beyond sour. Yeah, 83 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: this is pretty ugly. So the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, 84 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: which represents the city owns the stadium. You know, they're 85 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: accusing the forty niners of misrepresenting business, failure to pay 86 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: prevailing weight wages, conflict of interest, failure to maximize profit. 87 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: Just to give your sense of the numbers here, you know, 88 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: the stadium is projecting a two point three million dollar 89 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: loss this year. UM. The revenue from non football events 90 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: is eighteen thousand dollars this year, down from five million 91 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: last year. UM. And why that matters is that the 92 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: way that the city gets paid is is performance based rent. Right, 93 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: So so the money that they get from non football events, 94 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: be they concerts or corporate events, UH, that's the way 95 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: the city gets paid. They were making two point five 96 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: million dollars every year in that rent since the stadium 97 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: opened in two thousand fourteen. Last year zero dollars. This 98 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: year they're projecting zero dollars. So I think that's the 99 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: main reason here why why the city and and and 100 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: Mayor Leasa Gilmore is going so heavily after and finally 101 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: we turned to basketball with the NBA proposing a new 102 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: ten million dollar fine for tampering. Yeah, this has sort 103 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: of become I think a little too rampant for Adam 104 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: Silver and some of the owners where you have wink 105 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: wink side deals and players are signing right away when 106 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: they weren't supposed to have any contact with teams. And 107 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: if you're going to have the rule, you have to 108 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: be willing to enforce it, right. They don't do it 109 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: for traveling. Yeah, nice, sure they do. I haven't looked 110 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: at the last two minute reports, the the L two 111 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: L two M reports lately to see if he got 112 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: them wrong. But if you're gonna have the rule, especially this, 113 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: if you're going to have the perception again, a lot 114 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: of this stuff that we talked about comes down to 115 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: the time that this is all happening, that the perception 116 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: of everything the league Doug does has to be on 117 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: the up and up to fans because you're asking fans 118 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 1: and bookmakers to trust league data. It's why we talked 119 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: about the NBA for the first time in a long time, 120 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: is going to make sure that if a player says 121 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: he's seven ft tall, he can't be six. Because you 122 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,239 Speaker 1: have to have confidence in the data of the NBA 123 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: and their ability to get things right. That's why they're 124 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: I think they're they're really clamping down. Yeah, And one 125 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: thing to note, the rules, all these fines they were 126 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: set in right, so it's been it's been a while 127 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: since they updated these things. Team valuations are much higher, 128 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: league revenue is much higher. So yeah, doubling the fine 129 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: from five million to ten million makes sense. But in 130 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: my opinion, if you really care about this, the wallet 131 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: is not the way to enforce this right. Take draft 132 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: picks away. There's another way to inforce to the Timberwolves 133 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: one with the Joe Smith contract. Yeah, yeah, I think 134 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: if you really care about enforcing this rule, adding doubling 135 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: the fine is not the way to make sure teams 136 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: never do it again. Now, let's get to this week's 137 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: interview with the Demorris Smith, executive director of the NFL 138 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: Players Association Rowley as Hell since two thousand nine, and 139 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: we have a lot to talk about, including negotiations for 140 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: the next collective bargaining agreement, the skyrocketing valuations for franchises, 141 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 1: and the power of players in the NFL day. You 142 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: are currently on the Fame training camp tour, going around 143 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: to see all the players. You're about a third of 144 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: the way through. Is there any unifying message you're hearing 145 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: from the players, Well, more than anything else, it's we're 146 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: telling our guys that it's it's time to stay ready 147 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: for a potential work stoppage. Our collective bargaining agreement is 148 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: up in uh. There, It's no secret that we've been 149 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: in collective bargaining meetings with the league. But um, there's 150 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: no excuse for players not to be ready. So our 151 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: agents have done a great job of already talking to 152 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: our players about preparing for a work stoppage, saving their money, 153 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: coming up with alternative insurance plans, um and while we 154 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: hope that we get something done, you certainly have to prepare. 155 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: If you don't give me a reason why I'm wrong 156 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: with this statement. As a guy who has covered labor 157 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: stoppages for almost two and a half decades, now that 158 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: the players really have almost no advantage over the owners 159 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: because they have so much money that they really do 160 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: have the that it just waited out as long as 161 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: they want. Well you do. I mean it's you know, 162 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: like everything in life, it's not binary. Um. You know, 163 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: when we looked at where we were last year, the 164 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: owners still have, you know, certain interests when it comes 165 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: to covering the debt or servicing the debt on their stadiums. 166 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: You're looking at at least the television landscape now where 167 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: we all know that television for all sports is changing. 168 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: And while we've seen an uptick in viewership in the 169 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: NFL in the last year, that came after nearly to 170 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: maybe three years of a downturn. So you know, look, 171 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're you know, setting up the stratego game, um, 172 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: you know my battleship of you know, well well to 173 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: do owners. Um. But on the other side of the table, um, 174 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: you have a group of people who, um, I hate 175 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: to use this word, but they are the products. They 176 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: are the thing that people come to see. UM. I 177 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: think that both sides realize all of the downsides from 178 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: a work stoppage, but sometimes that that doesn't mean that 179 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: one doesn't have to occur. I will say, as someone 180 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,719 Speaker 1: who has covered a bunch of these, there have been 181 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: many times where you could have seen a bunch of 182 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: teams not doing as well as many in the league. 183 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: You can't say that for the NFL. These things print money. 184 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: Can you make in any argument whatsoever for an NFL 185 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: owner wanting to shut down the league? Well, you know 186 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: they made an argument last time that they wanted to 187 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: shut down because you know, they wanted to display a 188 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: team games. UM. And the things on the table there 189 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: were our pensions, UM, and issues of healthcare, and they 190 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: did shut it down. Um, we were able to keep both. UM. 191 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: I think that you know, you look at both sides. 192 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: Are there things that we like about the collective bargaining agreement? Yes? 193 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: Or the things that we don't like? Um? Yes, doesn't 194 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: mean that reasonable minds shouldn't figure out a way to 195 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: make up a compromise. But Scott, you know these people 196 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: probably better than I do. UM. There's times when irrationality 197 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: sets in, or there's times when there's just some things 198 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: that players won't do. And and eighteen games last time 199 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: was something that the players weren't going to do. D 200 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: every year, as you know, the Green Bay Packers released 201 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: their financials. As a journalist, it's kind of really the 202 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: only chance I get to look at the financials of 203 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: of NFL teams. We know the top line, you know, 204 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: fifteen roughly fifteen billion dollar revenue number. How much insight 205 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: do you guys get into the health of of NFL teams. 206 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: Not a lot. I mean, we we get to audit revenue. UM, 207 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: we don't get to audit expenses. So UM. You know, 208 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: I don't take a whole lot from the Packers situation because, uh, 209 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: you can make the argument that they are unlike um, 210 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: any other team in the National Football League. UM, So 211 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: I don't think that there is a whole lot to 212 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: glean uh from just one team when you try to 213 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: extrapolate that to to the other thirty one. UM. You know. Look, 214 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: I mean the reality of it is um and I 215 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: think you know this is getting a little bit into 216 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: the weeds. The league's decision UM in the last cb 217 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: A to not have revenue sharing as a part of 218 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: the collective bargaining agreement certainly change the landscape between the 219 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: teams and teams in some markets are making considerably less 220 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: UH than others and get to that number by just 221 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,080 Speaker 1: looking at their local revenue and knowing a little a 222 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: bit about how the TV money is UM shared between them. 223 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: But does that create an interest between small market teams 224 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: and large market teams. Yes, we're talking with Damorris Smith, 225 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: the executive director of the nfl p A and as 226 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: a Geezer reporter who was based in Detroit. UH. And 227 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 1: the irony of what's happening now is that the u 228 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: W is on strike against general voters. Two things that 229 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: the nfl p A and the u a W have 230 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: in common. And I've always learned they never negotiate through 231 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: the media, and that needs to be explained to people. 232 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: It's like, well, why are we getting any more news 233 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: out of this? Can you explain to people this is 234 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: why you don't do it? Well? Well, I never say never. UM. 235 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes if you think that there is a window, 236 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: uh to get something done. I'm certainly a fan of sitting, 237 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, having our players sit directly across from the 238 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 1: league's board of directors and having a conversation and keeping 239 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: that conversation in the room. UM. There are times, however, 240 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: when you think that negotiations aren't going well, and it's 241 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: important to use every piece of leverage that you have. UM. 242 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: I think, UM, the lockout or whatever led up to 243 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: the lockout. UM. Last time. We knew that they were 244 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: going to lock us out. We knew that they wanted 245 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: us UH to play eighteen games. We knew that they 246 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: had leveraged the TV networks to give them four billion 247 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: dollars to force the players UH to play eighteen games. 248 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: At that point, I think you can make a pretty 249 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: good argument, UM, that you should take your case to 250 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: the public, because, um you you want the public to 251 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: understand exactly what's happening. Can you explain that that leverage, 252 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: that that four billion dollar leverage the last time the Yeah, 253 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: the last time, the league made no secret of going 254 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: to the TV networks and getting all of the networks 255 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: to front them four billion dollars, even when the games 256 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: weren't going to be played. To be clear, the money 257 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: has to be repaid, but even though there's no broadcasts, 258 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: Actually it doesn't have to be repaid. But that that's 259 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: that's neither here nor there. But um uh, they secured 260 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: that from the networks. We filed a case in federal court, 261 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: a federal judge ruled um for the players, and the 262 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: league suddenly found themselves without that four billion dollars. Is 263 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: there any reason to believe in these visits to your 264 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: players that they're all saying, you know, this time around 265 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: eighteen games sounds good, Yeah, we want more football. Not really, 266 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: I didn't think so. No, No, I think that, um, 267 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: you know, the brutality of this game has played out, 268 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: UM unfortunately a lot in the in the last um 269 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. I think, um that we always take 270 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: a look at the We don't look at teams in isolation. 271 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: We look at the overall work that our players due 272 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: from April until February, and um, you know, like any 273 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: other um you know change, we will continue to push 274 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: for that work to decrease and their exposure to injury 275 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: decrease as well. Do you One of the big big 276 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: challenges outside of just negotiating these deals when you're putting 277 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: together a C b A is kind of trying to 278 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: anticipate what might not what isn't a big deal now, 279 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,119 Speaker 1: but might be a big deal before this thing expires. 280 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: And we talk a lot on this show about player 281 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: data and privacy, um, something that was probably not huge 282 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: on the radar back in two thousand eleven. I would 283 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: imagine it's a bigger deal now. Can you give us 284 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: a sense of the conversations that you're hearing from players. 285 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: How big of an issue is you know, especially as 286 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: sports gambling comes on board and everybody wants to monetize 287 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: data in that regard as well. Kind of how the 288 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: privacy around you know, analytics and you know, your heart rate, etcetera. 289 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: How that data conversation happens. Yeah, well we actually anticipated 290 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: it in then deal. So there's a clause in the 291 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: c b A that restricts the use of player data 292 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: in most cases unless there is the direct permission of 293 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: UM of the nfl p A. So we put that 294 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: as a placeholder back in and not you know, not 295 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: really knowing you know, the way it was going to 296 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: develop over the future, but certainly understanding the growing use 297 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: of player data. UM. I think that that will continue 298 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: to be a big issue. It will be a big 299 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: issue in bargaining. UM. You know we always when you're 300 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: talking about player data sometimes I think, UM, people talk 301 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: past each other when it comes to that issue. You know, 302 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: there's biometric data, UM. That that is certainly you know, 303 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: quote unquote interesting. There's tracking data, Uh that's interesting. There 304 00:16:55,160 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: sleep sensored data, Uh that's um that's interesting. But all 305 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: of that, UM our distinct buckets of player information. So 306 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: you know, we we believe in the privacy of our players. 307 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: We've had to file grievances in the past, you know 308 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: with the league that we've won UM in order to 309 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: ensure that we secure players privacy. UM. But UM, that's 310 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: something that will continue to do in bargaining and if not, 311 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: we'll do with grievances. So looking forward, what's the next 312 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: what's the next thing that that might get a placeholder 313 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: in this new deal that that you're really looking ahead 314 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: towards in maybe ten or fifteen years from now, And 315 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: that's why we don't bargain. A great question. I was 316 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: just getting ready to answer that while hair it comes. 317 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: You mean, the most important thing that I would want 318 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: to uh not want Roger to know you let me 319 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: think about it. We're talking to Devoris Smith, the executing 320 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: director of the nfl p A. And my apologies to 321 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: Mr Goodell when I asked the question this way. But 322 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: in the last negotiations, UH, critics said that Roger Goodell 323 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: was made judge, jury and executioner when it came down 324 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: through decisions with players. Uh. Is that going to be 325 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: an issue during these talks right now? Well? You know, 326 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: I think you know I've heard that more than once. UM. 327 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: I think that when you look at the history of 328 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: all of our collective bargaining agreements, UM, the eleven agreement 329 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: was the only agreement, UM that we've had that actually 330 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: limited his authority. UM. The the eleven agreement was the 331 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: first agreement that gave us neutral arbitration in every other 332 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: instance except for commissioner discipline. And his power UM for 333 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: commissioner discipline has existed since well, you could say since 334 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: n when we had our first UM collective bargaining agreement. 335 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: But you know, the overall power of commissioners in the 336 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: way that's been interpreted dates back to the Chicago Black Sox, right. So, UM, 337 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: you know, commissioner discipline is always a big issue UM 338 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: when it comes to our players. UM, it doesn't rank 339 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: in the top ten. UM. So what I think that 340 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: we will probably do in this collective bargaining agreement is 341 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: you will see something UM different. But sometimes I think 342 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: that certain issues play out in a public way, UM, 343 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: and people come to conclusions about what players think are 344 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: important by how it plays out publicly. UM. It doesn't 345 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: mean that we aren't going to change it, but UM, 346 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: we would never quote unquote by a solution for a 347 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: commissioner discipline. UM, we wouldn't give them percentage points for 348 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: commissioner discipline. We wouldn't give them stadium credits for a 349 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: change in commissioner discipline because, UM, it wouldn't make any 350 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: sense to trade an economic issue like that for a 351 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: non economic issue like commissioner discipline. What is the attention 352 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: being paid to the valuations of these franchises by your players? 353 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: Surely when they see the Dallas Cowboys are worth five 354 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: plus billion, and I think you and I would probably 355 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 1: agree should Gerald ever decide to sell the team, it 356 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: would be north of that. But it is. But it 357 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: is owner money. It's outside of shared money. What's the 358 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: retort to one, whatever you owner always says, I don't 359 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: get that money unless I sell it. I'm never selling. 360 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: And two it's my risk. What's the player retort to that? Well, 361 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: I think the player retort to that should be and 362 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: I know this might come to the shock but somewhat indifference. Um, 363 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: it's a it's an asset, um that that is owned 364 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: by UM in most cases now not even a single owner. UM. 365 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: So you know, we've kind of gotten away from using 366 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: the word owner because more of these teams are comprised 367 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: of of multiple shareholders, of which you know the person 368 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: that you see has the majority UM interest UM. The 369 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: way that I look at the valuation of this is UM. 370 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: Not so much UM in isolation, but if you look 371 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: at the market of how many sports teams come up 372 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 1: for sale in a given period of time, and who 373 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: is in a position to purchase that asset or what 374 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: groups of people are in the position to purchase UM 375 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: the asset UM, you can make all sorts of judgments 376 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: about the valuation, but I'm not sure that any of 377 00:21:55,560 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 1: that UM is more important than the pivotal question of UM. 378 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: What is your return for the amount of work that 379 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 1: you're doing, and whether you are a football player or 380 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: someone who works um UM for the U A W, 381 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: you want a fair return for the work that you have. 382 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: You know, if your compensation structure was one where you 383 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: had you know, interest, or or you were able to 384 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,360 Speaker 1: take shares or or warrants, that would be another conversation. 385 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: But UM, you know the way teams are valued, I 386 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: think you can have a a very robust conversation that 387 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: UM that any any any sports franchise is is worth 388 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: probably two or three times what the listed value is UM. 389 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: And that's because we have always in this country, at 390 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: least UH, there's been an unwritten rule about who these 391 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: teams are actually available to be sold to, right, and 392 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: who is that? Well, you know, we have had all 393 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: sorts of limitations on on who can purchase the team's, 394 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: limitations on whether certain owners needed to own certain percentages. UM. 395 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: I think I read recently that the NBA UM has 396 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 1: taken steps on on team ownership within the last month. 397 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: So all of those things affect valuations. So I think 398 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: the conversation about valuation is an interesting one. UM. I 399 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 1: just don't think that it is a pivotal one when 400 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: it comes to UM negotiating collective bargaining agreements. Because if 401 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: you're a worker and you're not entitled to warrants or 402 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: to purchase stock in the corporation in which you own, 403 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: the pivotal question becomes what's your return for the work 404 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: that you're providing. D Let's let's move away from from 405 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: labor talk for a second. You know, a couple of 406 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: weeks into the NFL season, we've had a number of 407 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: big name players essentially publicly demanding trades. Make of Fitzpatrick 408 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: Jalen Ramsey. You know, the Antonio Brown saga unfolded as 409 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,239 Speaker 1: it did. I saw Steve Young on TV Monday Night 410 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: Football saying that, you know, the NFL is becoming the 411 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: n b A. I think he meant it in a 412 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: bad way. I kind of interpreted it in a in 413 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 1: a good way. Do you see a shift at all 414 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: in maybe the power that players have in terms of 415 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,160 Speaker 1: kind of determining their own fate more so than maybe 416 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 1: there was a couple of years ago. You know, I'm 417 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: not gonna quibble between you know, somebody about whether it's 418 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: NET good, NET bad, because I really don't know what 419 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: it means. Um, you know, making sort of a moral 420 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: judgment about something like that. You know, the way I've 421 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: always looked at this job is is in two frames. Um, 422 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: we're a union and as the as a union, what 423 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: would you want for your workers? You would want them 424 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: to have more controlled you know over just like you said, 425 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: their destiny. Um. I think that you know, whether you 426 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: want to, you know, use it in a or sort 427 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: of cast it in a pejorative way or not is 428 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: up to your own you know, your own opinion, and 429 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: certainly people are entitled to their own opinion. But you know, 430 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: I do I do I think that that players have 431 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: exercised more of their power in the last few years. Yes, 432 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: UM do I think UM that that that feeling of 433 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: having more control over their destiny UM is something that 434 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 1: the players needed, UM to not only realize and exercise. 435 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely and and you saw it, UM, not only with 436 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: the way in which players have have taken certain stands 437 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: about their own contracts, but UM, going back to even 438 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: the issues we went through UM with the anthem, UM, 439 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: you saw players UM, you know, really for the first time, 440 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 1: UM taking a stand, and I think that's great and 441 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: certainly what any union leader would want to see. Let's 442 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 1: close on this, D I think I know the answer, 443 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 1: But let me ask anyway, since you just mentioned the anthem, 444 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 1: do you leave open any possibility that Colin Kaepernick may 445 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: play in the NFL again, that he would play again 446 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: in the National Football League? And I think he should be. Okay, 447 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: So why isn't he Why doesn't he have a job? Well, 448 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I've made no bones about it in in 449 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 1: the past. I think that that Colin was UM, had 450 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: the ability, had the talent UM to be playing in 451 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: the National Football League. And I made I've said it 452 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 1: before that I that it was my belief that the 453 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 1: owners made a decision that he wouldn't play in the 454 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 1: National Football League. So what gives you hope that he 455 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 1: may play again? Well, there's there's always hope, and I 456 00:26:55,440 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: think that, Um, you know, if you I I don't 457 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: want to sound too preachy, but you asked the question 458 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: if you simply want to continue to believe that bad 459 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,400 Speaker 1: things are going to happen, and I think that's a 460 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: tough way to live your life. Um. So do I 461 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: always hope that somebody who wants to play this game, Um, 462 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: somebody who should be playing this game? Um? Should I 463 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: hope that they are in this game? Absolutely? Tomorrow Smith, 464 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 1: executive director at the NFL p A, thanks so much 465 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: days the pleasure guys, de Morris Smith. He can school 466 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: us about anything, and uh, I love it when he 467 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: talked about the union and now listen like the U 468 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: a W. As I mentioned earlier, I covered a lot 469 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: of those, all the negotiations and the union never negotiating 470 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: in front of the media, believe it or not yet 471 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: and and it's right now. We are far away from 472 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: a deadline for a c B A. But I wonder 473 00:27:57,280 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: what's going to happen when we get close to it. 474 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 1: Will things change, will people clam up, or will everybody 475 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: start talking what's going to happen on the media negotiation part? Huh? 476 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: All right for me, and even am I stepping on you? 477 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: If you want to talk about player empowerment, I like 478 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: Terry d talk about sort of the players flexing a 479 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 1: little bit um that they have certain rights in the 480 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:26,199 Speaker 1: collective bargain agreement, and players and owners often do but 481 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:31,159 Speaker 1: heads however, you do have players who are kind of dictating. 482 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: Now you've seen it in the NBA more than the NFL, 483 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: but you're starting to see some NFL players saying I 484 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: would rather go here, or they're willing to sit out 485 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: and lose some money and pick their destination. And I 486 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: know one of your fantasy guys, you know, you think 487 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: Levian Bell is happy that he gave up what thirty 488 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: million bucks to steer his way to the New York Jets. 489 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: You think now he's thinking, how can I get maybe 490 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: maybe I should have how can I flex out of 491 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: New York exactly? Whoops of thin We we we got a 492 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: kind of a nice little glimpse into the way that 493 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 1: d and and I guess by virtue of that that 494 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: the players Union as a whole thinks about a lot 495 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,239 Speaker 1: of these negotiations. And you know, we spent so much 496 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: time in the media talking about Roger Goodell and and 497 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: the way that he disciplines players and whether that should 498 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: be taken away from him in the next c b A. 499 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: Certainly didn't seem like that was necessarily high on the 500 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: list for d right now. And he said, and I 501 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: was kind of surprised to hear him say it. You know, 502 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: they're not interested in trading money things for non money things, right, 503 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: And and on its face, player discipline is a non 504 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: money thing, and he's not interested in giving up more 505 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: money for that, right. And that comes after, you know, 506 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: eight years ago when they negotiated this most recent one, 507 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: there was some criticism for the NFL p A. People 508 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: felt like they focused on the money so much that 509 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: they lost sight of a lot of the other things. 510 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: Very interested to hear him say that, you know, they're 511 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: not interested in trading anything money for no money. It 512 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: feels better to be number one than number five. I'll 513 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 1: wear a number because of Mike. We have a chance 514 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: to go for three in a row. Because numbers are 515 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: a good time. When I first started wearing the number, 516 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: I would just happy and floomberg. Business of sports, the 517 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 1: number of the week, number of the week. We're gonna 518 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: play a game. This is the first time we've ever done. 519 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: Do we have to team use it? Yeah? We need 520 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: some match game using. I'm gonna give you. Oh it 521 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: is back on. It's a reap anyway. Okay, gotta you 522 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: gotta see g Grayburn's microphone and match game the greatest things, 523 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: the same thing that Bob carries it down here. Yeah, look, 524 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna play a game. It's it's kind of like 525 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: the price is right. I'm gonna give you two numbers, 526 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: twenty two point five and twenty one. Those are the 527 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: spreads for these two games. I'm going to mention Patriots 528 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: Jets and Cowboys hosting the Dolphins. Do you want to 529 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: higher or lower? Like car trucks? I want you that's 530 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: the right game to be playing right now. That's true. Uh, well, 531 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: I want you to match up either one and the 532 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: twenty two point five. Which one has the spread? That 533 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: seems like the same number to me. They're gonna win 534 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: by a lot. Looking at each other, going, what's the 535 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: difference between twenty They're gone. They're both ridiculous. They're both 536 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: very large spreads, all right, And then I'll put it 537 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: this way, kind of like Thanksgiving at the bar house. 538 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna play, We'll play, we'll play. I'm 539 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 1: gonna guess that the the the Patriots Jets line is 540 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: the bigger of the two. That is, I don't see 541 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 1: how it Isn't I agree with that? That is correct? 542 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: When did we win that? Will you win my gratitude 543 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: next week we're not playing. You got to increase. I'm 544 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 1: bringing Candy bars Man Jets and Patriots twenty two point five. 545 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: That's what the Patriots are giving up. Dolphins and Cowboys. 546 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: The Cowboys are giving up twenty one. That's amazing to me. 547 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: But poor Eli Manning, guys, never forget. You're not gonna that, 548 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: are you. You've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports, 549 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: where you're each and every week at the same time, 550 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: plus online wherever you get your podcast. You can catch 551 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 1: those Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Michael Barr and I 552 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: feel for you Eli on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. 553 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: I'm Evan Novie Williams at nov Underscore Williams, and I'm 554 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 1: Scott sash Nick. You can follow me on Twitter at 555 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: sash Nick. Thank you very much for joining us. Please 556 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: turning next week when we speak with Evan. We got 557 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: Pete Blastelica. Yeah, heading into the Overwatch League Grand Finale. 558 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: That's E Sports. Thank you. Bring your son in, yeah, yeah, 559 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: he'll know exactly what to do. I'm Pong. You're listening 560 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business or Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.