We noted the other day that the NFLPA hired a financial firm to help it analyze any financial data the NFL may release. To us, that implied that the NFLPA thought there was a real chance the NFL would give them the financial information they have been requesting for the last two years (and beyond that, really). The CBA currently allows for the union to receive league-wide financial data while they want to see team-by-team data.
NFL, NFLPA’s ‘Open The Books’ Standoff Continues
I suggested the NFLPA hiring that financial firm could have been a sign movement on the revenue debate is coming but that apparently won’t be the case.
The NFL shared some information, according to reports, but apparently not enough.
N.F.L. players union officials on Tuesday rejected an offer from the owners to turn over audited profitability data from all 32 teams for the past several years. The offer, made Monday night, was the first time the owners indicated a willingness to share financial information with the players beyond what is required by the collective bargaining agreement.
The NFLPA has been banging this transparency drum for some time so the NFL likely knows exactly what they want which, according to Judy Battista of the New York Times, is each team’s full audited financial statements.
At this point, I think it’s time to drop the “open the books” argument. I personally agree with the NFLPA that this information should be put all on the table and shared completely, but clearly the NFL won’t oblige. It’s time to stop wasting time on that and move onto the next issue.
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