Eric Winston
FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2020, file photo, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith speaks at the annual state of the union news conference in Miami Beach, Fla. The deadline for applying franchise and transition tags to free agents has been moved from Thursday to Monday by the league and players' union. With the NFL Players Association's members still voting on a new labor agreement the owners already have approved — that deadline was extended by two days to 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday — leaving the last time to use the tags at Thursday made little sense. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
NFL players approve labor deal, including 17-game season

By Barry Wilner Mar. 15, 2020 10:32 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland. On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in the midst of some 2,500 union members voting on a CBA, Tretter was elected as the new NFL Players Association's president, replacing Eric Winston, who no longer is eligible for the position. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns 12/8/2019

Mar. 10, 2020 04:05 PM EDT

Eric Winston, president of the NFL Players Association, speaks at the annual state of the NFLPA press conference, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
NFL players' union extends CBA voting deadline to Saturday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 09, 2020 03:03 PM EDT

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, left, arrive for an NFL owners meeting in New York, Thursday Feb. 20, 2020. The NFL's labor committee met Thursday morning before presenting to the owners the current state of ongoing negotiations with the players' union on a new labor agreement. With the league eager to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the players in the next few weeks _ the current deal runs out in March 2021 _ team representatives were summoned to New York to discuss the NFL's proposal.(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Player reps not voting on NFL labor deal; more talks Tuesday

By Barry Wilner Feb. 21, 2020 01:38 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 1965, file photo, Otto Graham, center, coach of the College All Stars football team, talks with co-captains Dick Butkus (50) of Illinois and Roger Staubach (12) of Navy as the team worked out under lights at Soldier Field in Chicago. In the early days of the NFL, college football was king and playing the game professionally was not necessarily something players aspired to do. By planting its flag in large cities, embracing television exposure and playing a more entertaining style, the NFL surged in popularity in the middle of the 20th century and helped turn college football into a means to an end for many players. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch, File)
NFL at 100: How college football became the pipeline to NFL

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 08, 2019 03:49 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, left, intercepts a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Ramsey responded to Tom Coughlin’s public criticism Friday, April 19, saying the team knows why he’s skipping voluntary workouts. Ramsey did not elaborate on the reason for his absence in his Twitter post, but said he will be “ready when it’s time.” (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
Jaguars' Marrone, Ramsey finally talk, share 'little laugh'

By Mark Long Apr. 22, 2019 03:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, left, intercepts a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Ramsey responded to Tom Coughlin’s public criticism Friday, April 19, saying the team knows why he’s skipping voluntary workouts. Ramsey did not elaborate on the reason for his absence in his Twitter post, but said he will be “ready when it’s time.” (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
Ramsey says Jags know why he's skipping voluntary workouts

By Mark Long Apr. 19, 2019 07:41 PM EDT

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell, from left, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Jaguars vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin and Jaguars president Mark Lamping listen to owner Shahid Khan speak during the NFL football team's annual State of the Franchise presentation Thursday, April 18, 2019 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Jags' Coughlin calls out Ramsey, Smith for skipping workouts

By Mark Long Apr. 18, 2019 02:03 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 25, 2011, file photo, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, left, and NFL football Commissioner Roger Goodell speak during a news conference at the NFL Players Association in Washington, after the NFL Players Association executive board and 32 team reps voted unanimously to approve the terms of a deal with owners to the end the 4½-month lockout. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
NFL at 100: Another labor stoppage looms in 2 years

By Barry Wilner Mar. 10, 2019 01:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2015, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals' Eric Winston (73) throws his gloves to a fan following an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Avoiding a work stoppage in 2021 could depend on whether players can secure more guaranteed money in the next collective bargaining negotiations with the NFL. Winston says the best way to ensure more guaranteed money for players is to get them to free agency sooner. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Bengals-Colts 9/3/2015

Feb. 13, 2019 05:55 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. The NFL’s inexorable trend of going younger and cheaper does not bypass the best in the league. No team does it with quite the high-profile zeal as the Patriots, who have collected five Super Bowl titles since 2002, and will be going for No. 6 on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, against the Rams. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
In the younger, cheaper NFL, Super Bowl champs get cut, too

By Eddie Pells Jan. 29, 2019 03:36 AM EST

Chart shows the divergence of overall player experience in the NFL since 2005; 2c x 3 1/2 inches; 96.3 mm x 88 mm;
Guaranteed money could be key to avoiding NFL lockout

By Eddie Pells Jan. 28, 2019 09:18 AM EST

Chart series ranks NFL teams by 2018 average player years of experience and shows historic trends since 2005; 4c x 7 3/4 inches; 195.7 mm x 196 mm;
AP analysis: The NFL keeps going younger and cheaper

By Eddie Pells And Larry Fenn Jan. 27, 2019 01:53 PM EST

Chart shows the trend in overall NFL player experience; 2c x 3 1/4 inches; 96.3 mm x 82 mm;
Done with football at 27, ex-NFL linebacker has no regrets

By Eddie Pells Jan. 27, 2019 07:17 AM EST