Yardbarker: Troy Vincent

What they're saying - Eagles beat Bears

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:31:55 -0500

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP about 18 hours ago: Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (29) races to the end zone past Chicago Bears safety Danieal Manning (38) to score the winning touchdown in the Eagles 24-20 win during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Browse more photos » LeSean McCoy talked about what his TD meant to hi...

The Worst Possible News About DeSean Jackson...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:46:34 -0500

He's not injured. He isn't dying either. No, it's much worse than that. 97.5 The Fanatic's Brian Seltzer tweeted this morning Jackson has fired his agent and elected to be represented by Drew Rosenhaus. The sound you hear is the collective groan from Eagles fans everywhere.All hyperbole aside, the decision doesn't automatically require Jackson to become a pain in the ass in the locker room or immediately begin a lengthy holdout. It's simply upsetting the young star wid...

De Smith bemoans pace of talks, reiterates request for financial data

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:19:59 -0500

On the same day that word surfaced of a lawsuit alleging that the NFL and former NFLPA president Troy Vincent engaged in forbidden meetings during the tenure of Executive Director Gene Upshaw, Commissioner Roger Goodell and current Executive Director DeMaurice...

Lawsuit claims that Troy Vincent was undermining Gene Upshaw

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:24:55 -0500

Though the specific claims made by NFLPA Director of Human Resources Mary Moran against the union aren't known, some details of the lawsuit are emerging.Per Daniel Kaplan and Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal, Moran's suit sheds light on one of...

(A 7-Year Old Picture of) Troy Vincent Will Make You Sweat and Your Heart Race, Ladies

Sat, 09 May 2009 13:23:59 -0500

An HHR insider (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent us the above photo that was taken in her work place's employees' gym locker room, noting it is "one of several poster-sized pictures of half-naked men scattered about the ladies' locker room in between African art."

Your New NFLPA Head: DeMaurice Smith

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:49:56 -0500

Yesterday in Hawaii the NFLPA elected lawyer DeMaurice Smith as the new head of their union. Smith (seen to the left) beat out former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, as well as sports attorneyDavd Cornwell. Cornwell became a very late candidate after receiving written support from three player reps. Despite the fact he is not a former player, nor has any specific ties [...]

Your New NFLPA Head: DeMaurice Smith

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:39:11 -0500

Yesterday in Hawaii the NFLPA elected Lawyer DeMaurice Smith as the new head of their union. Smith beat out former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, as well as sports attorney Davd Cornwell. Cornwell became a very late candidate after receiving written support from three player reps.

NFL CBA: Problems Looming

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:19:22 -0500

One of my greatest passions in my sports life is the Minnesota Vikings, and by extension the NFL in general. As such, i tend to follow things in the NFL pretty closely, especially issues that have the possibility of greatly affecting the game as we know it. One such issue, that i believe is not getting near enough exposure, is the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the NFL Players Association (NFLPA or Union) and the owners.

I've detailed the actual negotiations and what the issues will be here and here, as well as what the untimely passing of Gene Upshaw means for the negotiations here and here. I've also wrote about how the StarCaps suspensions/court cases coming up will affect the negotiations here. All this is to say that i feel this is a very important issue as well as something i am keeping a very close eye on.

I'm writing this article to focus on what perhaps will be the most important issue facing the NFLPA heading into the negotiations with the owners: Who their leader will be.

With the passing of Gene Upshaw almost a year ago, the NFLPA appointed Titans Center Kevin Mawae as interim president, with the knowledge they would be electing a new president in their winter meetings, which begin next week in Hawaii. Since that time, the selection process has been narrowed down to three names: Former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, both of whom have served as Union President in the past, and lawyer DeMaurice Smith.

As stated in the story above, the reason for Smith's inclusion on the final ballot is more or less a fail safe; There are growing concerns the NFLPA will split on which former player to elect as union head. In that event, Smith will be looked at as a sort of impartial party. That fact alone underscores not only the seriousness of the process, but also the problems plaguing it. Vincent has been mired in controversy since almost the moment he was mentioned as a candidate, having been accused of lobbying for the job, and recruiting congressman to write letters on his behalf (without specifically mentioning him) that raised questions on the integrity of the process.

So, how does all this affect the actual CBA negotiations, which will be taking place later this summer? Well, it means everything. If the NFLPA comes to a quick, majority decision on their new head and comes out looking strong and together, they are in good shape for the negotiations. If, however, the NFLPA has trouble picking a new leader, is split on the decision, and comes out fighting within itself and fractured (as many think is very possible), the negotiations are in big, big trouble.

As i mentioned in my previous article about the steroid suspension and the CBA, any little thing that either the NFLPA or the owners can jump on and take advantage of, they will. If the Union is fractured, suddenly the owners go into the negotiations looking to 'win' instead of just compromise. With that attitude they are likely to upset the NFLPA, causing a stall in the negotiations.

And just as a reminder, if the NFLPA and the owners cannot come to an agreement and get a new CBA in place before the 2010 season, that season will be an uncapped year. What that means is that for that season, there will be no salary cap, much like how MLB operates. If the NFL goes one year without a cap, it will be very, very, very hard to ever get a salary cap back in place. That would be very bad for the NFL.

I know i harp on it a lot, but please pay attention next week to the NFLPA meetings, not just for who they elect, but how they get elected and how the Union comes out of the meetings. The NFL as we currently know it is in the balance...

Gene Upshaw Had Proof Troy Vincent Released Information

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:43:29 -0500

With the NFL Players Association having outside legal counsel investigate whether former union president Troy Vincent improperly released...

The After Party: Naked

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:26:20 -0500

INFOLINKS_OFF-->Babes: Heidi Klum naked for GQ.Sports: Get your Lane Kiffin t-shirts!Babes: Doutzen Kroes and Adriana Lima do Victoria's Secret.Babes: Jenn Sterger appreciation.Sports: NFLPA head wannabe Troy Vincent being sued.Sports: How long before all of Favre's records fall?Stuff: ...

WATN: Troy Vincent In Hot Water

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:20:39 -0500

Strange story out of New Jersey involving a spa owned by former Eagle Troy Vincent. NFL players own spas?Former Pennsbury High and NFL star Troy Vincent, his Essence Salon in Ewing, an employee and his partners were sued in Mercer County Court by a client who claims she was sexually ...

Bump & Run: Cornerback Sued for Impropriety at His Salon

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:30:24 -0500

Among Trenton-native Troy Vincent's contributions to the economic development of his hometown region is his ownership of Essence Salon in Ewing. Now he, the salon and one of its masseurs are being sued for sexual assault. This should bode well for his quest to succeed Gene Upshaw as head of the NFLPA.

HHR Is Trenton

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:37:03 -0500

On Lalor Street, not far from the Mercer County Waterfront Park, the home of the Yankee's AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, I saw the following glossy, new billboard: I had to laugh. What are you saying, Troy? You rank 327 out of 335 New Jersey high schools?You're the 14th overall Most Dangerous City IN THE COUNTRY? 4th among cities with a population between 75,000 TO 99,999?You're home to the violent feuding between the Sex Money Murder and the Gangster Killer Bloods factions of...

HGH? In the NFL? Nah.

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:46:16 -0500

After rolling on the floor laughing, a league spokesman chin checked Steinbrenner by reminding him that the league has been randomly testing for steroids since 1990. Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, echoed that sentiment yesterday.