Former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith is set to release a new book titled Turf Wars in early August, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his time leading the union. Daniel Kaplan of AwfulAnnouncing.com obtained an advance copy and shared some intriguing excerpts, particularly concerning high-profile players and pivotal moments during Smith’s tenure. The book promises to provide a candid, and at times controversial, perspective on NFL labor negotiations and player dynamics.
One of the most eye-catching revelations in Turf Wars centers around Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was openly critical of the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Smith recalls a tense players’ meeting where Rodgers appeared disengaged and defiant.
Describing Rodgers as “the god of Cheesehead Nation,” Smith paints a picture of a player who was both brilliant on the field and combative off it, noting his dramatic exit from the meeting room and labeling him “an even more impressive antagonist.”
Aaron Rodgers (NFL)Mutual Contempt Between DeMaurice Smith and Aaron Rodgers Echoes in Turf Wars
Smith further details a personal interaction with Rodgers in 2021. He recounts receiving a text from the quarterback asking for a call, to which Smith internally quipped, “Could I not run into traffic instead?” The remark underscores Smith’s exasperation with Rodgers and possibly the broader frustrations he experienced dealing with some of the league’s more vocal critics during his leadership of the NFLPA.
The apparent disdain seems to go both ways. The piece notes that if asked about the book, Rodgers would likely dismiss it, urging people not to “waste their time reading crap like that.” This mutual contempt between the former union leader and the star quarterback highlights ongoing tensions that existed within the NFLPA ranks, and Turf Wars appears poised to offer more such revelations when it hits shelves.
