The NFL’s Divide-and-Conquer Approach
Roger the Hutt and Princess Jane (click to enlarge)
Now that the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) has taken center stage in the negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA, it’s getting down and dirty between the owners and the players and the war of words is heating up between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. And naturally, the old divide-and-conquer approach that worked in the past is getting rolled out again in an attempt to pit active and retired players on opposite sides of the fence by making “offerings of peace.”
So recently, the NFL announced its new Spinal Treatment Program (read about that in an earlier post HERE) to add to last year’s phenomenally successful – albeit relatively unused – Hip Replacement Program from which Dave received a whopping $517.63 for over $100,000 of surgery and rehab! (Dave’s going in for more spine surgery next month.) Roger must have been inspired by his short-lived Revival Meetings with retired players to listen to what was most important to retired players (Duh! Like no one knew!).
Some days, you can relate this whole saga to the long-running Star Wars series of Good against Evil and the rebellious Jedi warriors against the ominous Empire: an unlikely band of retired players going up against the money and power of a corrupt and overwhelming group of owners and old guard bent on destroying them. Boy – can we have a field day with this one! So for a quiet Friday, we present Roger the Hutt and his captive – or captivating – Princess Jane, conspiring on how to divide the insurgent rebels (with apologies to Jabba the Hutt and George Lucas). Who would you choose for which roles?
Abner Haynes Sr.
June 20th, 2009 at 4:06 am #
To our Pros, college & high school players -
Since 1995, 22 young men have lost their lives playing high school football. “For what?” ask the families of the players who died. Why are we so caught up with football? It only makes the rich happy. I wouldn’t give up my sons up to play football.
Divide-and-conquer is the owners’ bible. Stay together – don’t let selfishness control us. Some get paid, some don’t. So many players are dead already.
Stand up for them! Stand together, brothers and sisters!
Abner Haynes Sr.
Heroes of Football
1960 – 1967
Texans, Chiefs, Broncos
Helen L. Horvath, CEO/Advocate, HW Associates, San Diego, CA
June 21st, 2009 at 9:00 am #
Abner (and everyone else):
As a psychologist and organizational development trainer, I can attest to the fact that at an organizational level, there is more to the divide-and-conquer mentality that is below the surface of the motivation to divide-and-conquer. For the players, it is like the woman who abuses her spouse; all sugary and sweet until she nabs her man. She backs the man into the corner like a caged lion as she spends a great deal of time in the man’s life creating chaos and keeping the man off balance. He goes around in circles wondering what he could have done better or why HE is at fault. When in reality, it is the woman who has the issues. (a story for another day). The behaviors of individuals mirror the behaviors in an organization.
As in the abuse cycles, it becomes an issue of control within the organization. By controlling the outcome, the organization gets to control the game by pulling the strings. The players run around in circles attempting to figure out how to make the outcome better. 25 years of the control should be enough for anyone. It is like a bad marriage that needs a period put to it.
You are so right about bringing people together to resolve the issues once and for all. Players, active and retired, need to come together to unite and become one solid voice that is not mired in the “game playing” of the past. It is about “brand identity” and how the organization brands itself. One hides behind the other and points fingers without taking responsibility for their own actions. Hiding behind a CBA is still hiding. The organization has a responsibility to take care of the veterans and active players. OSHA rules still stand; even in football.
Maybe it is time to have an independent organization that has a voice at the table.
Helen Horvath
Summit Attendee
http://hwassociates.blogspot.com/
Dave Pear
June 21st, 2009 at 10:02 am #
Dear Helen,
Thank you for your insightful comments! We certainly appreciated your attendance at the Summit in Las Vegas May 29-31, 2009.
Sooner or later, Congress, a Court of Law or the Court of public opinion will FORCE the League Leadership to play by the rules.
Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear