NEW YORK (AP) — Former baseball union chief Marvin Miller says NFL players have strong leadership in their labor negotiations with the league.
The 94-year-old Miller calls NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith “a bright man with his head in the right direction.” Miller attended a screening Wednesday of a documentary about Curt Flood, who unsuccessfully sued Major League Baseball to try to gain free agency.
Miller emphasizes the NFL lockout is caused by owners’ demands, not those of players. He says “this is entirely caused by a $9 billion a year industry.”
Under Miller’s leadership from 1966-82, baseball players gained free agency and multimillion dollar contracts.
The documentary, “The Curious Case of Curt Flood,” is scheduled to premiere July 13 on HBO.
