NFLPA exec: Players must manage savings better ahead of potential '21 lockout

The NFLPA has had a hard time getting what it wants in CBA negotiations because it hasn't had many cards to play. Executive George Atallah wants to make sure that changes before the next time terms are up for debate with the league.

Atallah says the last time there was a lockout (in 2011), the NFLPA was unable to legitimately threaten to hold out through the entire season, as players needed to work to earn enough to live and support their families.

"We wound up in a situation where unfortunately (savings) didn’t happen across the league as much as it could have happened," Atallah told SiriusXM NFL radio's Alex Marvez.

Atallah says the NFLPA expected the 2011 lockout to occur in 2009, and began warning players to save their money in preparation, but had trouble getting everyone to follow through with the plan.

Now, he's warning current league players to prepare better for a potential 2021 holdout and to asking that they support each other to make sure the union can better negotiate with the owners.

"We need players of every generation to really help the young guys understand what it takes to go through some 'labor strife,'" said Atallah. "For the players who went through it in 2011, the union administration and player leadership did everything it could to prepare players across the league.

"I think it needs to happen again with the same sort of fervor."