In the Center

There was nothing "off" about the off-season for Kevin Mawae. Entering his 16th NFL season, he was busier than ever. Coming off of elbow surgery, there was some rehabbing to do, but as President of the NFL Player's Association, selecting a new Executive Director in March was crucial and now, with the focus on the CBA and avoiding a lockout, visits and meetings, including a trip to Washington DC, were on the docket. Basically, even off the field, Kevin is in the center of the sport he loves.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement was negotiated in 1993. After several extensions, including the last one in March 2006 that could have continued through 2012, the NFL decided to exercise the opt-out option to continue to negotiate a new agreement for the 2011 season and beyond. If both sides don't come to an agreement by March 2010, that season will be played without a salary cap with rules that will limit players free agency rights. If the agreement expires, after the 2010 season, a lockout ensues.

"Our job as a union is to try to get everyone to understand what the issues are on all sides. Obviously, you don't want to get to a lockout. You don't want that to happen," Mawae said. "It's not just the players that lose out. The fans lose out. You've got people working at the stadium that lose out, concession people that make money for their organizations -- everybody loses out in a lockout situation except for the owners. We want to make a deal that makes sense for everybody."

The jaunt to Washington DC, which included the NFLPA Executive Director, DeMaurice Smith, as well as 17 active and three retired players, was in part to lobby Congress to help prevent such a lockout.

The NFL owners contend the current agreement is too favorable to the players and, of course, the players think just the opposite prompting Kevin and others to ask that the League open its books to the union to give them a look-see at everything related to total revenue.

"If the players had that," Mawae said, "they would better understand how to resolve financial differences with owners. We can get this done. For us ( the players ) it's about G-3 funding for stadiums, better benefits, retired guys, easier access to treatment for retirees, giving us an even bigger percentage of the total revenue, giving us more pensions, bigger salaries, guaranteed contracts. There is a lot to talk about. We have to talk about it all. It is time to build another 15 years of labor peace. As players, we need to understand that the union is not simply about airing grievances but even more about building a healthy game for the future."

And, that is the exact line of thinking that landed Kevin in such a prominent position in the first place. He felt something had called him to service the players and the League, ultimately being a part of something much bigger than himself.

"I want to leave a legacy beyond the playing field," said Mawae.

That he is doing, not only through the NFLPA but also by supporting numerous charities. Mercy Ministries ( www.mercyministries.org ), the A21 Campaign ( www.thea21campaign.org ) and Children's Cup ( www.childrenscup.org ) are all foundations near and dear to Kevin. So, when he's not lobbying Congress, he's lobbying others to help those in need. Either way, Kevin continues to be in the center of it all.