Mike Pouncey Claims He and NFL Veterans Are Putting Together 'Strike Fund' With Potential Work Stoppage Looming
By Jackson Thompson
With the NFL's collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2020 season, and near-universal displeasure with the league's proposed replacement, a handful of veterans are taking the initiative to prepare for a strike.
30-year-old LA Chargers center Mike Pouncey is one of those veterans, and has claimed that he and other veterans will be creating a separate strike fund to help players get through a season without their salaries in the event of a work stoppage.
Another update from the Pouncey twins via @MaurkicePouncey’s IG.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 27, 2020
Mike says that players are playing the 2020 season regardless. Any strike would affect the 2021 season. He also lays out a plan to make sure players are paid in the event of a lockout. pic.twitter.com/urk1kRYUfA
“We are in the process of drawing up another fund to help in the wake of this 2021 strike,” Pouncey said on Instagram. “I myself @mikepouncey and @russellokung (Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung) are all putting up 250k apiece along with a lot of other vet players stay tuned!”
In addition, the NFL Players Association has been building a similar fund over the past several years, which would supply all players with an additional $60,000 in the event of a work stoppage.
Maurkice Pouncey is strongly against the CBA. He posted this (NSFW) a couple hours ago:
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 26, 2020
“I vote no. Our NFLPA, the dudes at the top, the leaders, that’s f’ing bs. F that. They’re not looking out for the best of the players. If y’all want my vote, the Pouncey twins vote no.” pic.twitter.com/hp4AqlG7Qu
Pouncey and his twin brother Maurkice Pouncey have been vocal opponents of the league's proposed CBA so far. Marukice Pouncey, who plays center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, even released a profanity-laden tirade against the proposal last Wednesday.
Clearly, these leaders are ready to go to war, if the situation calls for it.