There is ZERO defense for their position.
The union consulted a professional auditor and the investment-banking firm it has retained for the potential review of the owners’ statements and was told the information being offered by the NFL wasn’t nearly enough to justify the significant financial concessions sought by the league. Among the information to which the union wouldn’t have access was each team’s list of non-player costs; how much each particular franchise’s profits might have declined; whether overall-profit decreases on the league level were the result of one or multiple teams; and documentation of each team’s cash flow, balance sheets and expenses.
The union’s executive committee then voted to reject the offer by the owners’ committee and renewed its request for 10 years of complete audited statements.
The NFLPA, of course, has no divine right to the financial information it seeks. Nothing can force the owners to stop stonewalling the union on this issue – but there are strategic reasons why continuing to do so may not be such a great idea.
For one thing, if the union decertifies – as it was within minutes of doing last Thursday, according to a report by SI.com’s Jim Trotter – an antitrust lawsuit will follow. If so, the owners will almost certainly be forced to open their books during discovery proceedings.
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