NFLPA executive director's future in doubt

One week after agreeing to a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement with team owners, the National Football League Players Association is starting the process of repair its union. And the rebuild could include the search for a new executive director, according NFLPA executive committee member Lorenzo Alexander. In an interview with CNBC, Alexander, who also serves as a vice-president, said he couldn't "guarantee" DeMaurice Smith would stay on as executive director, while also acknowledging the players union needs to be unified when negotiating the next CBA after internal tension became public and the agreement passed by a narrow margin, which signaled wide disagreement among players. Last week, NFLPA members approved terms of a new CBA  which includes a 17th regular-season game, by a narrow vote of 1,019 to 959.

The results weren't too surprising as some players expressed early disappointment the deal didn't offer more for additional games. "I definitely see there being change based on how contentious this last vote was," Alexander said. Before votes were tallied, Alexander, the former Buffalo Bills linebacker and two-time Pro Bowler, admitted internal discussions about this CBA was intense.  Top NFL stars like Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson rejected the deal publicly.

And Wilson's teammate, Bobby Wagner, told CNBC players' safety concerns were being ignored. To add the problems, Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Russell Okung filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Smith claiming Smith had no authority to negotiate terms with NFL owners.   Donald S. Prophete is a labor lawyer and partner at Kansas City-based Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete.

He said Smith did a "good job" negotiating the new contract as more reveune was shared throughout classes of players. But he added the disagreements over the CBA signaled problems for Smith that could "push him out. " Prophete said the NFLPA's issue isn't Smith, but lack of unity within the NFLPA. "They always fold," Prophete said.

"They always have these issues and it seems like these issues are being more entrenched now that there is more money in the game. Instead of relieving some of the pressure, it seems like the pressure is increasing because there is more money and the guys at the top want more money. " Smith is up for an extension in 2021 and will need a unanimous vote from the Selection Committee to avoid possible opposition. The board, made up of player reps from each team, will determine if Smith's job will should be open.