Clark: Owners' Objective To Make Players Hurt In Wallet
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Ryan Clark joined the FAN Morning Show in his weekly spot to talk about the decertification of the union and the eventual lockout.
Despite the extension of the deadline, Clark was never optimistic about getting a deal done with the owners. He wants to get a deal done, but wants a fair deal.
Clark said the NFL lead labor negotiator, Jeff Pash lied when he spoke to the media after the deadline passed on Friday. He was also upset that the media has a bias when it comes to the news coverage on ESPN and NFL Network about collective bargaining negotiations.
Clark points to the fact that the owners and Pash were able to make full statements to those networks while the NFLPA's lawyers were never seen on television and DeMaurice Smith's comments were cut short.
When it comes to getting a deal done and not missing any games next season, Clark doesn't know if that will happen. He doesn't think there will be any rush by the owners to get a deal done in the offseason, until the threat arises of missing games.
Clark says, "the owners' objectives are to make the first and second-year players and the practice squad guys hurt, make them need the money, because this is their job and once they get to that point hopefully it will make the bottom half guys to bring down the top half.
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During the negotiations, the NFLPA has been asking the owners for full disclosure of the team's finances in order to make the extra $1 billion in concessions.
Clark said, "Smith only received a sheet of paper with a number written down for each team," and it was the union's third-party that determined that was not enough to make a decision.
Clark wants to remind Steeler fans that it was not his decision or the unions' decision to opt out of the CBA, and they are fighting for future football players, because the current players can't pass this game on to their family like the Mara's or the Rooney's.
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