After meeting with union head, Panthers worry about lockout

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers spent an extra two hours at the office Thursday night, but it wasn't preparing for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Panthers players took part in a lengthy meeting with new NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith after their regular workday and left that meeting more concerned than ever about the future of the game.

When NFL owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement in May 2008, it set the stage for a year without a salary cap in 2010 and a potential lockout in 2011.

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Staring down the barrel of that gun, Panthers union representative Muhsin Muhammad said players had every right to be worried.

“The reality of the situation is, a lockout is a very likely scenario, given the progress we've made with the owners toward negotiating a new deal,” Muhammad said. “We've had no proposals from the owners, and really no agreeable terms overall.

“It's even closer to the reality of a lockout, because of the time that continues to pass with no negotiations taking place. We've had two meetings, and we've gotten no proposals. They've yet to come with a proposal. We're wondering at what point the owners want to discuss keeping labor peace. At the stage we're at now, it seems they don't want that. We're ready and willing to talk about terms. If they're opting out of a contract and they don't like it, let's talk about why.”

Muhammad said Smith, who replaced the late Gene Upshaw as the union's boss, laid out the realities of the coming labor negotiations and didn't paint a rosy picture. That the NFL has retained labor lawyer Bob Batterman — whose strong-arm tactics helped the NHL broker a favorable deal after the 310-day lockout that killed the 2004-2005 season — is viewed as one of many dark clouds on the horizon.

“I think it would be very immature to say everything's going to be OK,” Muhammad said. “For us to sit back and say ‘Hey, everything's going to be OK,' is being really, really naive.”

Smith's major emphasis in his trips to teams is to encourage the savings plan the union is putting into place this year, trying to help players put money aside in case there's no football in 2011.

They're encouraging the membership to put aside 25 percent of their earnings the next two seasons to cover themselves, but there will be programs funded by the NFLPA to help players with mortgages if their paychecks go away. Earlier this week, the union raised its annual dues from $10,000 per player to $15,000 per player to build a war chest.

“I learned more things than I ever knew,” Panthers wideout Steve Smith said Friday. “Instead of having question marks at the end of sentences in my notebook, I have periods now. Those things have been answered.”

Steve Smith said he's long tried to encourage his younger teammates to put away money, but the potential of a lockout has made him more vigilant about spreading the word.

“I'm not sure if I can say players are or are not ready,” Smith said. “The message is, this is ongoing and a serious issue. It's not a work stoppage, it's not unrest, it's a lockout, and that's a possibility. It's not about whether players are ready. This isn't a wait-and-see. There's a quiet before the storm, there's a storm coming. You've got to put the sand in the sandbags, got to get your lumber and your two-by-fours. So if a storm comes and you're not prepared, it's going to be a rough deal for some people.”

Smith admitted he's in a more secure spot now, having signed two lucrative contract extensions since his rookie deal.

But he knows not everyone's as fortunate, and he knows he wouldn't have been ready eight years ago.

“I made a lot of mistakes. I was foolish,” he said. “If the lockout was coming when I was in my second year ... I was broke my rookie year. It would be pretty sad for myself. I've always told guys to save their money, everybody I've interacted with, whether it was Ryne Robinson or Keary Colbert or even now Kenny Moore. I know the mistakes I made.

“I tell those guys to be prepared, but not be prepared for a lockout, but to be prepared for life. The money you make today, you've got to make it last a lifetime.”

Also during the meeting, the Panthers elected their representatives to the union's board, keeping Muhammad as their rep and adding kicker John Kasay and Smith as alternates.

Smith was previously uninvolved in the union, but said as he ages, he's coming to a better understanding of the issues. He said from talking to Kasay — as close to a mentor as he has in Charlotte — he anticipates the face of the game changing as a result of the next CBA negotiations.

“The NFL will be changed,” Smith said. “Just from talking to John, when he came into the league, there was no free agency, now there is. Now there's an opportunity for another ripple. I think there will be some differences no matter what happens, whether it's the lockout or a new contract.”

Smith said players in this climate were like computers, and if they aren't willing to “update their software,” they run the risk of being victims.

“Once you become obsolete, as a consumer, what do you do?” Smith said. “You throw it out and buy a new one.”

That kind of talk frightens players, but they know how perilous their situations become after the 2010 season ends, when there's no guarantee of football — and the income it provides — in their future.

“The question is how long can players withstand being locked out of work?” Muhammad said. “That's why it's important for guys to save their money. It's not us walking out, the doors are being locked. It's not on the players.

“We've got two years to prepare. This year and next. They've had every warning, and they better pay heed to it. If there was a Category 5 hurricane coming to town, you better board your windows up.”