The NFLPA stands with the college football players seeking to create a collegiate association that would possess the power to collectively bargain. On Tuesday, history was made as CAPA (Collegiate Athletes Players Association) was unveiled to the public, and the NCAA had a quick combative response.
Kain Colter and an anonymous majority (as opposed to Richard M. Nixon’s “silent majority”) of Northwestern football players took steps to form the first ever union for college athletes. The next step is February 6th, when the local chapter of the National Labor Relations Board will rule on the initiative in Chicago.
The NFL Players Association supports the effort of the players via resolution passed by its Board of Player Representatives:
“Resolved, that the NFLPA pledges its support to the National Collegiate Players Association (NCPA) and its pursuit of basic rights and protections for future NFLPA members.”
I’m very proud to see the NFLPA showing solidarity with their collegiate brothers. But if you read this site, you probably already knew where I stood. If not, I wrote something more impassioned here.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar in media studies, he’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on ESPN, NBC, CBS and Fox Sports Radio. A former writer for NBCChicago.com and WashingtonTimes.com, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)