Liz Mullen of the
SportsBusiness Journal reports Troy Vincent, the NFL's new VP/Player Development for Active Players, will start on Monday and will report to NFL VP/Law & Labor Policy Adolpho Birch III, who oversees the NFL player development program. But the hiring raised eyebrows in the football community and some wondered what impact, if any, it could have on the league's position and if it could hurt the union during labor talks. Vincent did not immediately return a call; NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir of External Affairs George Atallah was not available for comment.
Bill Gould, former National Labor Relations Board Chair, said it was quite uncommon for management to hire a former leader of the union it negotiates against during the midst of collective bargaining. "For someone to be on one side and switch to another in a short period of time -- that is what has happened here -- that is very unusual. I can't think of that happening in any other collective bargaining situation." Gould added that Vincent "would certainly have information that would be helpful to the NFL and he would certainly have been more involved (in the NFLPA) than anyone else in that position who would be available for that kind of job. He (Vincent) would know something about the dynamics of the personalities and the intra-politics that drive the union. That we know for sure."
Many people would not go on the record to talk about Vincent's hiring and what it means, saying it was too sensitive a topic and could hurt the union. One former sports union leader said that the league could gain insight into the NLFPA's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the "factions in the union" through Vincent. Another player-side source said the league hired Vincent as "a wedge" to divide players.
NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello when asked if Vincent was hired as a way to divide players said, “Absolutely not. This is a way to fill an important position in our player development area with an individual extremely well-suited for the job as we expand our ability to provide off-field assistance to players. It is the position that was previously held by another former player, Hall of Famer Mike Haynes.” As to whether Vincent’s knowledge of the union would provide give the league an edge in a labor battle, Aiello said, “Our negotiating team already knows the union and its leadership very well. Troy will not be part of our negotiating team and will not be involved in labor negotiations.” Aiello added, “The union leadership has changed significantly since Troy was involved and the notion that internal union politics will decide the outcome is not realistic.”
