Latest news with #TurfWars
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
DeMaurice Smith book slams Roger Goodell, Aaron Rodgers, Jerry Jones
Smith calls Goodell "a cold, dark void" who "was in the employ of madmen." Jones is characterized as stingy despite his estimated net worth extending into the tens of billions in recent years. Smith writes, "If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up." NFL COLLUSION: In stunning ruling, arbitrator finds NFL encouraged collusion Jones is one of the main names called out in the book, though Smith doesn't let the rest of owners off the hook either. Awful Announcing's report on the early copy of "Turf Wars" includes that its author calls the overall group of NFL owners "a cabal of greedy billionaires." Notably, and despite the general characterization of NFL owners, Patriots owner Robert Kraft receives a nod in the acknowledgements section of Smith's book, according to Awful Announcing. The worst of all top NFL officials, according to Smith, is Pash, who retired in 2024 after 40 years of working with the league. Smith calls Pash "definitely the most unscrupulous. In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat." AARON RODGERS: Steelers QB hosts DK Metcalf, other teammates for Malibu workout Smith didn't stop at calling out NFL executives, either. Awful Announcing reported that the former head of the NFLPA called Rodgers "the god of Cheesehead Nation" and "isolated and dismissive." Writes Smith: "He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit. An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist." That wasn't all. "In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers," Smith writes. "'Can you call me?' it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?" Smith's criticism of players didn't stop with Rodgers. Also on the chopping block is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who Smith calls out for criticizing players that kneeled during the national anthem because it "may be hurting the game and having an effect on revenue." NFL 2025: Predicting the 4 most explosive offensive players in the league Smith served as the NFLPA's executive director from 2009 until 2023. During his tenure, he dealt with the 2011 NFL lockout amid new contract bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations and the "Deflategate" incident from the 2014 AFC championship game. Smith also was the man who filed the initial complaint with arbitrator Christopher Droney that accused NFL owners of collusion. Droney ultimately dismissed the case, though not before noting in a 61-page document that the NFL Management Council "encouraged 32 member Clubs of the NFL to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting." The report ultimately found that NFL owners had not been engaging in collusive conduct, but the document remained under wraps until Pablo Torre unveiled it on his podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out" late last month.
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
National adult kickball tournament returns to Maryland with a boom for Fourth of July weekend
A National adult kickball tournament returned to Maryland this weekend and was streamed on ESPN3. The MARS TurfWars brought kickball teams from around the country to Elkridge in Howard County. This was the second time MARS brought the kickball tournament to Maryland. In 2024, the tournament was held in Prince George's County. According to the Turf Wars Kickball website, this is the top adult kickball brand in the country, and he first and only kickball organization to be played in full on an ESPN station. Maryland's kickball tournament Four competitive divisions, with dozens of teams, were playing on Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 7. MARS partners with the Maryland Sports Commission to bring the sport to the state. Graham Whaples, the project administrator for the Maryland Sports Commission, said the kickball tournament brings a nice economic boom to the region. "We got folks coming from all over the country," Whaples said. "They're staying in hotels, they're going out to restaurants, and that's a huge impact that we have here, especially over the holiday weekend."
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
DeMaurice Smith slams Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, Aaron Rodgers in new book
DeMaurice "De" Smith hasn't served as the NFL Players Association's executive director for more than two years. But there's clearly no love lost between him and some of the NFL's most important figures. According to Awful Announcing, Smith plans to publish his new book, "Turf Wars," in early August. In it, he slams NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Smith calls Goodell "a cold, dark void" who "was in the employ of madmen." Jones is characterized as stingy despite his estimated net worth extending into the tens of billions in recent years. Smith writes, "If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up." NFL COLLUSION: In stunning ruling, arbitrator finds NFL encouraged collusion Jones is one of the main names called out in the book, though Smith doesn't let the rest of owners off the hook either. Awful Announcing's report on the early copy of "Turf Wars" includes that its author calls the overall group of NFL owners "a cabal of greedy billionaires." Notably, and despite the general characterization of NFL owners, Patriots owner Robert Kraft receives a nod in the acknowledgements section of Smith's book, according to Awful Announcing. The worst of all top NFL officials, according to Smith, is Pash, who retired in 2024 after 40 years of working with the league. Smith calls Pash "definitely the most unscrupulous. In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat." AARON RODGERS: Steelers QB hosts DK Metcalf, other teammates for Malibu workout Smith didn't stop at calling out NFL executives, either. Awful Announcing reported that the former head of the NFLPA called Rodgers "the god of Cheesehead Nation" and "isolated and dismissive." Writes Smith: "He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit. An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist." That wasn't all. "In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers," Smith writes. "'Can you call me?' it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?" Smith's criticism of players didn't stop with Rodgers. Also on the chopping block is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who Smith calls out for criticizing players that kneeled during the national anthem because it "may be hurting the game and having an effect on revenue." NFL 2025: Predicting the 4 most explosive offensive players in the league Smith served as the NFLPA's executive director from 2009 until 2023. During his tenure, he dealt with the 2011 NFL lockout amid new contract bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations and the "Deflategate" incident from the 2014 AFC championship game. Smith also was the man who filed the initial complaint with arbitrator Christopher Droney that accused NFL owners of collusion. Droney ultimately dismissed the case, though not before noting in a 61-page document that the NFL Management Council "encouraged 32 member Clubs of the NFL to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting." The report ultimately found that NFL owners had not been engaging in collusive conduct, but the document remained under wraps until Pablo Torre unveiled it on his podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out" late last month.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
De Smith's upcoming book takes shots at Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, Jeff Pash
Turf Wars, the upcoming book from former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, contains several blunt characterizations regarding some of the management folks with whom he did battle during his years on the job. Via Daniel Kaplan of the book has choice words for three of the folks he dealt with. Advertisement Smith describes Commissioner Roger Goodell as a "cold, dark void." As to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Smith says this: 'If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up.' Then there's former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash. Smith calls Pash "definitely the most unscrupulous." "In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat," Smith said. Ruthless or not, Pash gave life to the collusion grievance that was resolved earlier this year via a 61-page ruling by putting in writing things he should have discussed with Goodell verbally. The paper trail of emails from Pash to Goodell and Goodell to Pash made it clear that the NFL and the Management Council wanted the teams to collude when it comes to limiting guarantees in player contracts. Advertisement Turf Wars will be released on August 5. If/when we get an advance copy, we'll likely have plenty more to say about the contents of a book that seems to be far closer to scorched earth than smooched ass.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
De Smith's upcoming book takes shots at Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, Jeff Pash
Turf Wars, the upcoming book from former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, contains several blunt characterizations regarding some of the management folks with whom he did battle during his years on the job. Via Daniel Kaplan of the book has choice words for three of the folks he dealt with. Smith describes Commissioner Roger Goodell as a 'cold, dark void.' As to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Smith says this: 'If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up.' Then there's former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash. Smith calls Pash 'definitely the most unscrupulous.' 'In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat,' Smith said. Ruthless or not, Pash gave life to the collusion grievance that was resolved earlier this year via a 61-page ruling by putting in writing things he should have discussed with Goodell verbally. The paper trail of emails from Pash to Goodell and Goodell to Pash made it clear that the NFL and the Management Council wanted the teams to collude when it comes to limiting guarantees in player contracts. Turf Wars will be released on August 5. If/when we get an advance copy, we'll likely have plenty more to say about the contents of a book that seems to be far closer to scorched earth than smooched ass.
