NFL tells teams to zip it over CBA talks with NFL Referees Association
To no surprise, the league issues internal gag order regarding sensitive subject.
When it comes to the American art of capitalism, the First Amendment often takes a back seat. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL has issued a memo to all teams prohibiting public comment on the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations with the NFL Referees Association. It's no surprise.
With owners, coaches, and General Managers already interacting with reporters at the NFL's annual meeting, it will be impossible to get a wide range of voices on the same page. The easiest approach is to tell everyone to zip it . That gives everyone who will answer questions on the record an easy out: "Sorry, I can't comment.
" Obviously, this won't stop off-the-record conversations. And plenty of people in the NFL ecosystem already have strong opinions about the prospect of a sequel to 2012's Fail Mary , thanks to the possible use of low-level replacement officials if/when the NFL locks out the officials. An internal gag order regarding labor talks is nothing new for the NFL.
Before the 2011 lockout of players, the league told teams to not talk about it. Along the way, the league fined Cowboys owner and G. M.