DeMaurice Smith
FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 file photo, Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter stands on the field during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Cleveland. NFL players were locked out of team headquarters last offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, their union wants them to boycott any in-person OTAs. Last year, teams were forced to do everything online until training camps opened in August, and NFL Players Association president J.C. Tretter has been advocating for a repeat of last year's offseason, arguing that the adjustments caused by the coronavirus showed the arduous offseason programs were unnecessary.(AP Photo/David Richard, File)
NFL players call for virtual offseason, shun in-person work

By Arnie Stapleton 9 hrs ago

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LV, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Somehow, the NFL pulled off playing every game in a pandemic

By Rob Maaddi Feb. 05, 2021 11:44 AM EST

Executive director of the NFL Players Association DeMaurice Smith speaks during a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LV, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
NFL players continue fighting for social justice, diversity

By Rob Maaddi Feb. 04, 2021 08:25 PM EST

Executive director of the NFL Players Association DeMaurice Smith speaks during a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LV, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Column: On eve of Super Bowl, Goodell takes a victory lap

By Tim Dahlberg Feb. 04, 2021 05:38 PM EST

FILE - Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley works with wide receivers during an NFL football training camp practice in Owings Mills, Md., in this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, file photo. David Culley has been hired as the coach of the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the hiring told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday night, Jan. 27, 2021, because the hiring hasn’t been announced. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
More interviews didn’t equal more minority hirings in NFL

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 29, 2021 04:49 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2021, file photo, the Seattle Seahawks play against the Los Angeles Rams in an otherwise empty stadium during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Seattle. The dip in revenue for the NFL during the pandemic has been substantial but not crippling. The biggest negative is revenues being on the low end of what was hoped because of limits on crowds in most NFL cities. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
NFL's revenue dip in pandemic significant, but not crippling

By Schuyler Dixon Jan. 29, 2021 02:16 AM EST

FILE - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers a question during a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami, in this Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, file photo. Playing through the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded countless lessons for a league that was born in the shadows of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Goodell said the league will confer with the players union after the Super Bowl to discuss what measures might make sense keeping once the crisis subsides. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
COVID-19 changed NFL in 2020 and some shifts are permanent

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 03:03 PM EST

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, left, greets San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Washington won 23-15. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
NFL won't be cutting in line for coronavirus vaccine

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 15, 2020 02:28 AM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 file photo, Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter stands on the field during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Cleveland. The NFL players believe the season can be completed on time without the league moving into a version of a postseason bubble like other sports have as long as everyone follows the rules already in place meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. NFLPA President JC Tretter and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith held a virtual news conference on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 to discuss the challenges the players have felt this season while playing during a global pandemic and address how things will change in the future. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
NFL union sees no current need for bubble to slow COVID-19

By Josh Dubow Dec. 08, 2020 05:30 PM EST

Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki runs for a 50-yard interception return touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns 11/22/2020

Nov. 22, 2020 02:06 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians talks to quarterback Tom Brady (12) during an NFL football training camp practice Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brady feels at home during scrimmage in Buccaneers stadium

By Fred Goodall Aug. 28, 2020 04:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 22, 2019, file photo, NFL vice president Troy Vincent speaks to the media during an owners meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla. The NFL has informed teams their training camps will open on time. League executive Troy Vincent sent a memo to general managers and head coaches on Saturday, July 18, 2020 informing them rookies are to report by Tuesday, quarterbacks and injured players by Thursday and all other players should arrive by July 28. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Players plead with NFL to address health, safety concerns

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 19, 2020 01:21 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, NFL Players Association Executive director DeMaurice Smith speaks at the annual state of the union news conference in Miami Beach, Fla. The NFL and the NFLPA haven’t come to an agreement on all protocols for training camp and the preseason as the report date for teams draws closer. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
As camp approaches, how will NFL handle players opting out?

By Dave Campbell Jul. 18, 2020 02:08 AM EDT

Protesters hold signs before they march during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Chicago, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Floyd died after being taken into custody and restrained by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Goodell: 'Tragic events' call for 'urgent need for action'

May. 30, 2020 09:53 PM EDT

FILE In this Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 a general view of the Camp Nou stadium prior of a Spanish Copa del Rey soccer match between Barcelona and Leganes at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)
The Latest: Softball World Cup pushed back to 2022

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2020 04:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 2, 2014, file photo, Ron Mix is introduced before the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. Ron Mix likes what he has seen and read regarding the new labor agreement between the NFL and its players. The Pro Football Hall of Famer, board member with the Pro Football Retired Players Association and retired attorney believes players from every generation will benefit from the deal struck last month that runs through the 2030 season. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
NFL retirees mostly in favor of new labor agreement

By Barry Wilner Apr. 07, 2020 12:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2020, file photo, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith speaks at the annual state of the union news conference in Miami Beach, Fla. The deadline for applying franchise and transition tags to free agents has been moved from Thursday to Monday by the league and players' union. With the NFL Players Association's members still voting on a new labor agreement the owners already have approved — that deadline was extended by two days to 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday — leaving the last time to use the tags at Thursday made little sense. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
NFL players approve labor deal, including 17-game season

By Barry Wilner Mar. 15, 2020 10:32 AM EDT

NFL, union extend deadline for franchise tags to Monday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 10, 2020 03:03 PM EDT
The deadline for applying franchise and transition tags to free agents has been moved from Thursday to Monday by the league and players' union. ...

Eric Winston, president of the NFL Players Association, speaks at the annual state of the NFLPA press conference, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
NFL players' union extends CBA voting deadline to Saturday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 09, 2020 03:03 PM EDT