Union president Winston: NFL can’t afford a lockout

CINCINNATI - Players union President Eric Winston said the NFL can’t afford another lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021, even though he thinks it’s inevitable.

The Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman tweeted on Tuesday that if the league locks out players as it did in 2011, or overlooks the health risks to players, then “they have signaled that they are not worried about the game in 20-30 years.”

Winston told a Cincinnati-area television station on Monday that he thinks another lockout is inevitable and that it will “kill the goose that laid the golden egg.” He said the union is getting the younger players educated about the issues.

“These rookies that are here now are going to be in the middle of that,” he told WCPO-TV . “They need to understand what they’re getting into, what they need to prepare for. We have to prepare for that outcome because that’s what happened the last time.”

As for veteran players, Winston said, “Honestly, I don’t care and I don’t think the guys in this locker room care whether this thing’s going to be around in 20 years because none of us are going to be playing.”

The league locked out players in March 2011 after the previous collective bargaining agreement expired. The lockout extended through the summer, with players working out on their own. The Hall of Fame game was called off for the first time in 45 years.

Political football: Patriots gave Trump a Super Bowl ring: President Donald Trump has a Super Bowl ring — just like Vladimir Putin.

The New England Patriots said Tuesday that owner Robert Kraft gave the diamond-encrusted ring to Trump. The sitting president usually receives gifts from teams during celebratory White House visits. A personalized jersey is standard, but Kraft gave Trump a ring as well.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Chargers center Max Tuerk suspended for 4 games: Los Angeles Chargers center Max Tuerk was suspended Tuesday by the NFL for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performanceenhancing substances.

Tuerk won’t be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster until Oct. 2, the day after the Chargers’ Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He can participate in all preseason practices and games.

Tuerk was a third-round pick in 2016 out of USC but has yet to play a regularseason game with the Chargers.

Tuerk said in a statement issued through the team that he had taken over the counter supplements during the offseason.

“In doing so, I opened myself up to the possibility of consuming a tainted supplement — something that ultimately led to a positive test for a banned substance,” he said.

— Wire services