NFLPA Chief Smith is Feeling the Heat

Smith on SportsAnalysis: NFLPA Chief Smith is feeling heat from the membershipThere is no question that NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith is feeling the heat from his membership about taking a strong stand in negotiations. Today, Smith said that the discipline powers that NFL Commissioner Goodell and his office have been exercising will be up for negotiations in the next collective bargaining agreement. The issue was raised by several recent suspensions issued by Goodell.This is not a positive sign at all for the odds of avoiding a lockout/strike. It indicates that Smith is being forced by the players to a more radical stance against the owners. It also indicates that there are some serious hurdles to getting an agreement any time soon.The power of prescribing discipline is critical to maintaining control of a league. The power of the MLBPA has turned Commissioner Bud Selig into a silent straight man when it comes to dispensing suspensions and other forms of discipline. Selig and the M...