Case Study -- NFL vs NFLPA.edited

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SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY Managerial Decision-Making BUS5293-570 Instructor: Dr. Danon Carter Assignment 3: Case Study STUDENT DATA: Name: Michael Alberto Lionmail: Michaelealberto@lionmail.sagu.edu Semester: Spring 2024 Date: 02/04/2024

Ongoing Negotiations Between the NFL and the NFLP Over Player Safety With the Super Bowl being a week away, fans are upset with football season reaching its conclusion. However, there will be no offseason for NFL owners and general managers as the NFL and the NFLPA have been negotiating changes to league policies and rules regarding player safety. With concern about concussions and increasing other scientific-based evidence of football-related head trauma that causes neurological diseases, the league is urged to pressure to change and adjust the violent nature of the game. Key issues that are in negotiations are reducing full-contact practices during training camp and in the regular season to avoid exposure to hits. Another key issue is changing the preseason and regular season rules to prevent dangerous hits that are more susceptible to concussions and injuries. "When the 2011 CBA got rid of two-a-day practices during training camp, coaches, executives, and the public voiced concerns that players would not be prepared to perform when the season started. Players are safer than we were before 2011, but our game has improved since then." States JC Tretter with the NFLPA. The NFLPA pushes for less contact in training, stricter protocols, and better equipment to protect plays. However, the NFL worries that such changes could soften the game and take away from people's love of the physicality of football. With player safety at stake and the NFL worried about the relationship with the fans, the NFL and NFLPA face pressure to find the perfect balance between safety and entertainment, which is the key to the sport's survival. Decision-Making Process When dealing with the negotiations, the NFL decided to be cautious, wanting to make changes to improve safety while still not changing its hard-hitting spirit. According to Player Health and Safety in NFL Football Operations, “The NFL and NFLPA will work together to protect players by outlining infractions or penalties for improper conduct, dangerous plays, or

incorrect use of safety equipment.” Collecting data and research is one way both organizations will work together toward player safety. Both organizations will gather data on player injuries, health outcomes, and the long-term effects of playing football. “. Data suggests that players had about four times the risk of concussion on the kickoff compared to running or passing plays. Due to this data, there were changes to the kickoff rule that addressed the components understood to create the most risk. According to the Player Health and Safety in NFL Football Operations, "The competition committee worked with special team's coaches and the NFL medical and engineering advisors to consider changes to the kickoff play during an owner and coaches' session..." in 2016, the NFL and NFLPA worked together to enhance player safety by creating the Field Surface Safety & Performance committee. The purpose of this committee is to conduct research, provide advice on injury prevention, and enhance methods related to playing fields. This committee is also in charge of the NFL stadium inspection program, which hires engineers with NFLPA representatives closely monitoring the process to make sure safety standards are being met. In response to a rise in concussion rates, the league will implement a three-pronged injury reduction plan focused on changing behaviors through education, equipment improvements, and stricter enforcement of rules prohibiting dangerous techniques. Initiatives include sharing injury data to modify practice drills, annual helmet testing, and penalizing illegal hits and improper moves. Through these efforts, the NFL has successfully reduced concussions by 25% over the past three seasons from 2018 to 2020. Ethical Issues According to The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, a few vital ethical decisions that surround the NFL-NFLPA negotiations on player safety include Transparency – all parties should be transparent about their goals, interests, and conflict as they relate to player

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health and any information related to player health should be shared with the player. The NFLPA has claimed that the league must be more transparent in sharing data to identify any trends that can allow them to make any changes in their policy according to backed-up data. Another ethical decision that should be made that surrounds the NFL-NFLPA negotiations is conflict of interest. All stakeholders should take steps to minimize conflict of interest and how to manage them. (Deubert, Cohen, and Lynch, 2016) Lastly, health primacy is another ethical decision that surrounds both organizations. Health Primacy avoids serious threats that players can face, which should be essential in dealing with every stakeholder. The negotiations over player safety must be guided through ethical principles of honesty and responsibility. However, there are tensions between the violence of football and protecting the players. Making progress for the players will likely mean losing the intense hitting and physicality of the sport. Achieving such moral outcomes will require the NFL, NFLPA, and the teams to recognize the ethical dilemmas at stake as they make the decisions. What is Being Negotiated? There are several impacts with the NFL and NFLPA negotiating changes to policies and rules pertaining to player safety and health. The first impact is rules and regulations. “Sport- related concussions are associated with cognitive impairment, depression, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.” With football being a popular sport among males, it has one of the highest concussion rates among high school sports. Concussions are approximately four times more common in contact practices compared to non-contact. (Pfaller, Brooks, Hetzel, and McGuine, 2019) With the conclusion of this study, the rate of sport-related concussions sustained in football practice decreased by 57% (Pfaller et al., 2019). By reducing full-contact practices and limiting exposure to head trauma, it can better protect the players. There is also penalizing

tackles that are considered dangerous and could harm players. This eliminates headshots with the use of the 'Helmet Rule' – which states that it is foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact against an opponent. (NFL Player Health and Safety) Another impact is the new safety technologies the NFL is bringing to ensure the safety of the players. They will ensure safety by updating helmet designs. According to the Player Health and Safety in NFL Football Operations, helmets undergo laboratory testing by engineers appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate which helmets best reduce head impact severity. In 2021, both organizations prohibited players from wearing three helmet models. Improving the players' equipment is an essential step toward reducing injuries and demonstrates the strong collaboration of the NFL and NFLPA to enhance safety. Lastly, medical protocols have another impact on player health and safety. The NFL is investing in and supporting preeminent experts and institutions to advance progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating head injuries. (NFLPS, 2018) “More than $40 million in funding has been allotted in the Play Smart. Be Safe. Initiative for research over five years." Overall, most measures are to improve safety by reducing risks and exposure. However, balancing protection vs. competitive impacts continues to challenge the league, the player association, and its fans. Stakeholders The Players are the ones directly affected by injury risks in football and have every right to want to see changes that will reduce injuries such as concussions. However, they want to maintain the intensity and value of the game that makes it popular across America. The players may have limited power, but the NFLPA can negotiate. Team owners are also stakeholders as they are focused on profits and their brand. For them, the rule changes may be inconvenient because they can devalue the game and upset the fans – the people they are profiting from.

Coaches are also stakeholders. They are responsible for players and their health but also look to win and will risk anything and everything to win a game, as their jobs are on the line. The rule changes in the league have affected the strategy and preparation teams go throughout the week, even questioned. Lastly, club doctors are essential stakeholders in player health. They diagnose and treat players and make recommendations. Doctors also have obligations to the club and advise clubs of the status of players. (Deubert, Cohen, and Lynch, 2016) Leadership Perspective Based on the research conducted on this case study, the impacts on player health, and the viewpoint of NFL owners, I would take a hands-on approach in proposing and implementing safety initiatives. Instead of worrying about losing profits from the rule changes, my main priority would be the players' health. Many former players struggle with the long-term effects of concussions. According to the Boston University School of Medicine, 345 players have been diagnosed with CTE out of 376 former players studied, which is 91.7%. There are ways the NFL can improve player safety, including reducing full-contact practices, enforcing strict rules for player protection, and requiring the latest helmet technology, as mentioned earlier. Players and former players should have access to a lifetime of care if they develop health issues during or after their careers. I would implement better player benefits, especially injury benefits, with medical support after retirement. According to Statista, the NFL generated a total revenue of approximately $18.6 billion in 2022. With the league generating billions yearly, a portion should go to better care for players that fans pay to see. Always protect your investment; in this case, the players are your investment and must be taken care of. Biblical Impact

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The Bible talks about caring for others and how His people are called to care about their neighbors. An excellent example of caring for others is the parable of the Good Samaritan. This parable is about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, and as he is on his way, he is robbed of everything and beaten. The Good Samaritan came by and saw the man needing help, gave him medical attention, and cared for him. (Luke 10:30) NFL owners should be like the Good Samaritan and help their players when they need help and are physically and mentally injured. The Bible also teaches about protecting the weak and giving justice to those who cannot speak up for themselves. Proverbs 31:8-9 states, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." In conclusion, the ongoing issues between the NFL and NFLPA regarding player safety represent a balance between maintaining the physicality of the game and prioritizing the well- being of players. The decision-making process reflects a careful approach by the NFL seeking to implement changes that enhance safety without compromising the nature of the game. Ethical considerations surrounding transparency, conflict of interest, and health primacy stress the need for responsible and honest negotiations. The key issues in the negotiation process include rule changes, safety technologies, and medical protocols demonstrate an initiative to reduce the risks related with football related injuries. From a leadership perspective, player health must be prioritized over financial gains is encouraged, aligning biblical principles emphasizing caring for others and defending the rights of the vulnerable. In spirit of the Good Samaritan, NFL owners should provide for its players, taking responsibility to protect those who entertain millions on the field.

Reference Gough, C. (2023, September 5). NFL revenue 2022 . Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/193457/total-league-revenue-of-the-nfl-since-2005/ How 2020 will shape future NFL seasons . NFL Players Association. (n.d.). https://nflpa.com/posts/how-2020-will-shape-future-nfl-seasons How the NFL is advancing player health and safety. (n.d.-a). https://nflps.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/09/NFL-Fact-Sheet-Health-and-Safety-9.2018-1.pdf NFL Health & Safety . NFL Football Operations. (n.d.). https://operations.nfl.com/inside- football-ops/players-legends/player-health-safety/ Protecting and promoting the health of NFL players: Executive summary. (n.d.). https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/47_Exec_Summary.pdf Researchers find CTE in 345 of 376 former NFL players studied . Chobanian Avedisian School of Medicine Researchers Find CTE in 345 of 376 Former NFL Players Studied Comments. (1969, January 1). https://www.bumc.bu.edu/camed/2023/02/06/researchers-find-cte- in-345-of-376-former-nfl-players-studied/ TA;, P. A. M. S. (n.d.). Effect of a new rule limiting full contact practice on the incidence of sport-related concussion in high school football players . The American journal of sports medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31306587/

Case Study -- NFL vs NFLPA.edited

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