NFLPA warns agents about players signing with New Orleans Saints
By Josh Hill
The New Orleans Saints are freshly removed from the Bountygate scandal in which the NFLPA stood up for them and helped get suspensions significantly reduced. Now, the NFLPA is coming after the Saints due to legislation the team has backed that would reduce worker compensation if a player is injured outside of the 17 week season each year.
"In an email to agents Friday, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith wrote the union is actively involved in an effort to defeat legislation backed by the Saints that would “substantially reduce workers’ compensation benefits for players injured at any time other than during the 17 weeks of the regular season.”"
The letter doesn’t specifically tell players not to sign with the Saints, as that’s collusion and it’s not really legal. But the letter does warn of the consequences players may face if they sign with the Saints which is freedom of information and the Saints can’t do anything about it.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, as the NFLPA is going to war with the Saints over this legislation and one of the NFLPA’s most prominent members happens to be Saints quarterback Drew Brees. For the record, Brees tweeted out his opposition to the legislation and is standing on the other side of his franchise on this issue.