NFLPA president clarifies comments on not caring if NFL 'dies' in 20 years

NFL Players Association president Eric Winston clarified comments he made Monday about not caring whether the NFL "dies out in 20 years" due to a work stoppage in 2021, which the Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle believes is likely.

In a tweet Tuesday, Winston accused "the league's spin doctors" of misrepresenting his comments, and hit back at the NFL, arguing that team owners will be the ones who'll show they don't care about the future of the sport if they lock out the players or continue to ignore the health risks associated with football.

"Honestly I don't care and I don't think the guys in this locker room care whether (the NFL) is going to be around in 20 years because none of us are going to be playing," Winston said to WCPO, according to ESPN. "So if these guys (the owners) want to own for a long time, then they can own for a long time. But another work stoppage might kill the golden goose."

NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith said last week that a work stoppage in 2021, when the current CBA is set to expire, is "almost a virtual certainty."

"I'm certainly not worried about it," Winston said. "I'm not going to be around that long. I don't care if even if there are rookies in here - they're not going to be playing that long.

"So if this thing dies out in 20 years, it dies out in 20 years. That's not really my concern, and I don't think it's any of these players' concern in here either."