J.J. Watt Not Okay With Proposed NFL CBA

The NFL announced yesterday that owners had agreed on what they felt was a great new CBA that would usher everyone in the NFL—themselves, players and fans—into the land of milk and honey.

NFL STATEMENT​​​​​​:

Following more than ten months of intensive and thorough negotiations, the NFL Players and clubs have jointly developed a comprehensive set of new and revised terms that will transform the future of the game, provide for players – past, present, and future – both on and off the field, and ensure that the NFL’s second century is even better and more exciting for the fans.

The membership voted today to accept the negotiated terms on the principal elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Players Association would also need to vote to approve the same terms for there to be a new agreement.

Since the clubs and players need to have a system in place and know the rules that they will operate under by next week, the membership also approved moving forward under the final year of the 2011 CBA if the players decide not to approve the negotiated terms. Out of respect for the process and our partners at the NFLPA, we will have no further comment at this time.

Some NFL players, including Houston’s own #1 son, J.J. Watt, had a different view:

Denver Broncos soon-to-be-free agent (and hopefully future Houston Texan) cornerback Chris Harris Jr. wasted no time re-tweeting Watt’s comment. 49ers All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman joined the fray, agreeing with Watt and Harris Jr.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, Watt speaking up in the fashion he did didn’t sit well with other members of the NFL Players Association. From Yahoo:

Two players who spoke with Yahoo Sports on Thursday night expressed frustration that a player of Watt’s stature spoke out against the deal prior to a Friday conference call with the NFLPA that would determine if the league’s 32 player representatives would pass the CBA offered by the team owners on to a larger vote, including the entire NFL player membership.

“I wish we could get on the phone [with the union] and ask some questions before people start shooting things down already,” one player said.

A Twitter account known as “MasterTex” posted a scan of the proposal sent to the NFLPA:

As it always goes with these things, it’s all about how all of them can continue to get richer while the average fan will undoubtedly have to shell out more hard-earned cash to support such things. We can’t help ourselves. We just love pro football.

As expected, Texans Head Coach/General Manager/Football Czar William O’Brien, like the people who call the shots for other NFL organizations, won’t make any more roster moves while this all plays out. If the new CBA is ratified quickly, keep your eyes peeled for several rapid moves.