Entertainment & Sports Law
In Surprise Pick, Patton Boggs Partner Elected Head of NFL Union
Posted Mar 16, 2009, 06:16 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A partner at Patton Boggs with an expertise in white-collar criminal defense has been elected to head the players union for the National Football League.
The election of DeMaurice Smith on Sunday came as a surprise, the New York Times reports. Former player Troy Vincent had been considered the front runner, but critics, some of them anonymous, had attacked his business dealings and character. Another opponent was high-profile sports lawyer David Cornwell.
Smith is chair of Patton Boggs’ government investigations and white collar practice group, according to the Washington Post, and he has ties to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder. He has no NFL experience, but it worked in his favor, according to the Associated Press.
Smith’s platform contended players need a comprehensive business plan that emphasizes not only collective bargaining, but also marketing and licensing deals. He also said the union has a “moral and business obligation” to retired players, and both retired and current players need better health care and opportunities.