Eric Winston Reelected to NFL Players Union

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Eric Winston has been unanimously re-elected as president of the NFL players’ union. It will be his third straight three-year term.

Winston, who is scheduled to become a free agent, ran unopposed for the position. The NFLPA Board of Player Representatives announced the result Sunday at the NFLPA’s annual meetings.

New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich was elected as the union’s treasurer.

Sam Acho (Bears), Thomas Morstead (Saints), Russell Okung (Chargers) and Michael Thomas (Saints) were voted to the executive committee. They join returning members Lorenzo Alexander (Bills), Zak DeOssie (Giants), Richard Sherman (49ers), Adam Vinatieri (Colts) and Benjamin Watson (Ravens).

Eric Winston has been the NFLPA president since 2014. This term could be particularly important for Winston. If he can get an extension on the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, it would decrease the chances of another lockout.

The league’s current CBA expires in 2021, so it is likely that during the next NFLPA presidential term, there will be another lockout. Winston, however, will not be eligible to run for NFLPA president for that term if he doesn’t play during the 2019 season.

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Last season Winston played in eight games for the Bengals, although he only started two of those. Last August, Winston made headlines when he said he is expecting a lockout in 2021.  He added that players in the league now do not care about whether or not the league is still around in 20 years.

Winston, 34, is a Midland native and former University of Miami standout. He was drafted by the Texans in the third round in 2006.

For his career, Winston has played in 165 games with 127 starts. He has played for the Cincinnati Bengals for the last four years.