Over the past month, the NFL’s offer for the new collective bargaining agreement was heavily debated. Based off comments from top players, it appeared like the offer wouldn’t go through. That wasn’t the case on Sunday morning, as the new CBA was ratified by the narrowest of margins.
While many players expressed their frustrations on social media on Sunday, Green Bay Packers defensive back Tramon Williams took the opposite approach, but he brought up a new point. While many complain about the benefits players receive currently, Williams points out that they will get much more in retirement.
“They can’t see the forest because they are so focused on the tree. You will be a former player a lot longer than an actual player in the NFL.”
Williams isn’t lying in his assessment. In the new CBA, retired players will receive additional benefits once they walk away from the game, while also receiving an increase in their pensions.
In fact, Williams isn’t the only one to share this sentiment. Recently-elected NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter pointed out that while the deal wasn’t perfect, the increase in retirement benefits was one of a handful of things that was too good to pass up. And based off the voting results, 1,019 players agreed with both Tretter and Williams.
While the CBA won’t necessarily benefit most of the current players, Williams wants to let his colleagues know that it’s a good deal in the long run, especially with the short shelf life that most players have in the NFL. Williams, himself 37 years old, is understandably more concerned with the end of his career than the beginning of it.
Via: 12up.com