It’s early July, which means the NBA’s free agency period is in full swing and is taking center stage and generating a ton of headlines.
Soon, NFL players will report to training camp and teams will get things into motion, moving toward the start of the 2018 season. But before we even get there, at least one NFL star has his eyes on an NBA-like payday for himself and others.
TMZ caught up with Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, who was asked what NFL players can do to get the kind of big-money free agent deals their NBA brethren receive. Gurley’s answer was simple enough:
Gurley is just the latest to call for some type of work stoppage in order to secure more guaranteed contracts for players. Offensive tackle Russell Okung recently offered up his two cents on why the NFL needs guaranteed contracts.
Here is what Okung laid out in a series of tweets:
Many argue that trying to compare the league-player dynamic in the NFL with other sports is apples to oranges. Yes & no. League revenues are skyrocketing, a monster media rights deal is on the horizon, the business of football will never be the same.
— Russell Okung (@RussellOkung) July 3, 2018
Last year, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said it was a “virtual certainty” that a work stoppage would be on the way. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in 2021, which leaves plenty of time to negotiate – or more likely, for animosity to build between both sides.
Fully guaranteed contracts are in place in the NBA, NHL, and MLB, but aren’t commonplace in the NFL. It was a big deal when Kirk Cousins received his from the Vikings this offseason, and the hope (from a players perspective) is that his would be the first of many. And while it could be, I wouldn’t bet on it just now.