National Football League

DeMaurice Smith receives $1M bonus

Published Dec. 21, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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NFL Players Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith received a $1 million bonus and a vote of confidence from the union's executive committee Wednesday.

CBS Sports reported Monday that Smith was growing weary of potential drama within the union's hierarchy and could depart if the committee did not approve his sizable bonus.

But the committee said in a statement Wednesday it looked forward to a long relationship with Smith, who was elected unanimously to serve as the union's executive director in 2009.

"The Executive Committee of the NFLPA stands firmly united behind Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and what has been accomplished under his leadership," the committee's statement said. "Today, we made an affirmative decision on his discretionary compensation. We look forward to having him serve our membership long into the future."

Smith played a significant role in the union's completion of a 10-year collective bargaining agreement during the offseason. The 47-year-old former attorney declined to accept his salary during the four-month-long NFL lockout.

Smith's contract with the NFLPA expires in March, according to CBS Sports. The approval of his bonus is believed to be a positive step toward Smith negotiating a new long-term deal with the union.

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