NFL Lockout Ends With A Handshake Between Roger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith

NFL Lockout: NFLPA Executive Committee Approves Settlement

And with that, the NFL lockout is inches from the finish line. On Monday morning, the NFLPA executive committee voted to approve a settlement negotiated over the weekend, setting the table for an official end to the lockout. The owners approved a proposal to end the lockout on Thursday, though it contained items the NFLPA had not seen, causing a momentary uproar. A weekend of negotiations calmed some nerves as DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell hammered out a few remaining issues ahead of Monday's vote.

With the executive committee's approval, all that's left is a vote by the players, who are expected to follow the committee's recommendation. NFLPA executive director of external affairs George Atallah put it simply when announcing the results of the vote.

It's Unanimous.

With the lockout settled, business is about to pick up in the NFL. A tentative free agency schedule was released on Monday morning, with the first actual moves set to begin early Tuesday morning. Training camps will also open quickly as teams stagger starts throughout the week beginning on Wednesday.

The NFL lockout settlement is contingent on the NFLPA reforming as a union, though they have about two weeks to do so. The players are expected to vote to recertify using union cards distributed at team facilities and training camps.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Not Quite Done, NFLPA Upset About Owners' Proposal

The NFL lockout is not quite over, and there still remains at least one significant hurdle to clear. For a moment, the headlines were all optimistic, with the players set to ratify the owners proposal at 5 p.m. and the lockout set to be lifted by Saturday. All was well in the world and it appeared free agency was all but certain to begin in just two days.

But Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter would like to remind us all to pump the brakes.

 you can take it to the bank that the players are not going to ratify this proposal as currently presented.

And ESPN's Chris Mortensen came along to explain why. Put simply, the owners made a power play with their vote and the proposal, forcing the NFLPA into an awkward position.

"It puts onus on players to make a decision to agree; paints us into a corner with fans. We'll discuss tonight but the idea of reconstituting as a union as never been a slam dunk as the owners have already assumed."

Another high-ranking NFLPA official: "We are not happy here. We had to honor to not vote on an agreement that was not final (Wednesday). This is not over. This actually takes away incentives from players to vote yes tonight."

So it's not quite over yet. The NFLPA is still on the fence about the recertification issue and the owners pushing them into the corner was not well-received. The NFL side of the deal jumped the gun, voted to approve their own proposal and left the players in a less than ideal position just half an hour before they were set to vote.

It all means the players will likely head back to the negotiating table to hammer out a few more key issues, including the reformation of their union. It's not over, but it's close -- almost painfully so.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

2011 NFL Free Agency Dates Tentatively Set As NFL Lockout Nears End

The NFL lockout is nearly over, and all that's left is a vote by the NFLPA and the condition that the players' union recertifies. With that, the attention turns to free agency and the key dates for it all to take place. While announcing that the owners had ratified a proposal to end the lockout, Roger Goodell discussed a few key dates, including the beginning of free agency.

Essentially, Saturday is the day clubs can begin attempting to re-sign drafted rookies and free agents. Sunday is the day teams can sign undrafted free agents. And on Wednesday, everything goes out the window and madness commences as open season on free agents is declared.

Here's the brief schedule, courtesy of NFLLabor.com. It is tentative, and comes with the condition that the players agree to the proposal and become a union again.

July 23 Voluntary training, conditioning and classroom instruction permitted until first day of clubs' preseason training camps.

July 23 Pre-2011 League Year Period commences. 2011 Free Agency List to be issued and will become effective on the first day of the 2011 League Year (July 27). Clubs/players may begin to renegotiate contracts. Clubs may begin to sign Drafted Rookies and their own UFAs, RFAs, Exclusive Rights Players and Franchise Players.

July 23 Waivers begin for the 2011 League Year.

July 23 Starting at 2:00 PM ET, clubs may negotiate with, but not sign, Undrafted Rookie Free Agents, free agents, and other clubs' UFAs, RFAs, and Franchise Players.

July 24 Starting at 2:00 PM ET, clubs may begin to sign undrafted rookie free agents.

July 27 2011 League Year commences at 2:00 PM ET, provided NFLPA has ratified CBA. Free Agency Signing Period begins. Clubs may sign free agents and other clubs' Unrestricted Free Agents. Clubs may sign Offer Sheets. Trading period begins. All Clubs must be under the Salary Cap. Top 51 rule applies.

Everything is compressed, and jammed into a week or two of free agency. At the same time, training camps will begin to open and players will report to training facilities, as well. Because the lockout dragged on so long, this is what we're stuck with.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Agreement Nearly Reached: Training Facilities Could Open Saturday; League Year Wednesday

The NFL will not wait for the NFLPA to recertify as a union and will, instead, fire up the league year as soon as possible, should the players vote to ratify the agreement to end the NFL lockout. Speaking to reporters, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the good news after the owners ratified the new collective bargaining agreement by a 31-0 vote, with Al Davis' Oakland Raiders abstaining. If the players approve the agreement on Thursday night, as expected, there will be a one-day break, then training facilities will open this weekend.

Previously, many felt the league would wait for the NFLPA to recertify before firing up the league year and allowing players to sign and teams to make transactions. That will not happen, and the league year will begin on Wednesday, should everything move forward as planned in the next few hours. Wednesday is scheduled to be the day free agency begins as it stands now, and would mark the opening of a wild week of transactions, with an entire offseason crammed into about seven days.

Players could begin to sign their own free agents and draft picks as soon as the proposal is ratified, according to Jeff Pash, but contracts would be in a state of suspense until an actual agreement is put into place. The NFLPA would have to recertify for any kind of league year to begin, Pash said, and would create a situation where the league is in a holding pattern, making the Wednesday date less than firm at this point.

The NFLPA is set to vote at 5 p.m. PDT and is expected to approve the agreement to end the NFL lockout. The agreement is for 10 years, and should ensure we don't have to go through this again anytime in the near future.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Agreement Ratified By Owners, Players Up Next

The NFL lockout is inching closer to a close and cleared one major hurdle just moments ago as the owners voted to ratify the agreement. This, essentially, means the deal is halfway home, with the players expected to do the same in just under an hour. Once passed, the NFL may resume, or it may wait until the NFLPA recertifies in the near future.

The news was reported by NFL Network's Albert Breer, with a simple tweet that says it all.

Resolution passed by the owners.

The vote was passed by a 31-0 margin, and you'll never guess who abstained. Al Davis, you guys!

Final voting result according to @richeisen: 31-0 (Oakland Raiders abstained).

The NFLPA, operating as a trade union, will now hold a conference call to ratify the agreement, as well. If it passes, and there's no indication it won't, the NFLPA would then have to become a union again, a stipulation the owners have held tight to. This process could take days or longer, and Chester Pitts believes it will be at least two weeks until teams are able to open training camps.

The agreement the owners ratified is set to last 10 years, and will form the basis of the NFL for that time period. It includes a revenue sharing plan more slanted in the owners favor, and concessions from both sides that were hammered out in the past few weeks with the deadline for training camps to begin looming.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Agreement Votes Should Take Place Thursday Evening, Says Chester Pitts

Seattle Seahawks player representative Chester Pitts has been making the media rounds over the last two days, updating the public on the progress of the talks to end the NFL lockout. Pitts was optimistic on ESPN just moments ago, and hinted at a vote taking place at 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday evening. The player vote on an agreement to end the NFL lockout is one of the final hurdles remaining, though the biggest is the recertification of the NFLPA.

The owners are holding steadfast in their requirement that the NFLPA becomes a union again after it decertified at the start of the NFL lockout. Even if both sides approve the deal, it will not be put into affect until another vote is taken and the NFLPA forms again, adding another wrinkle to the timetable for the beginning of football. As of Thursday morning, there was some debate about re-forming the union, and the time it would take to properly do so.

Because of all the hurdles, however big or small, that need to be cleared to end the NFL lockout, Pitts is less than optimistic about an accelerated timeframe for the start of training camps and football. On Wednesday night, he felt it would be two weeks before the NFL lurched into motion -- with a free agency period and the NFLPA vote standing in the way.

He held to that timetable on Thursday, telling ESPN, "I would be shocked if this happened in under a week. It may be closer to a two-week timetable."

For now, the vote on an agreement should be encouraging. Neither the NFL or NFLPA would hold a vote if they didn't have the necessary votes in place to pass it. If it does, in fact, happen on Thursday night, it's likely the agreement will go through, beginning the process of ending the lockout.

We'll be back with more as it becomes available. For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Vote Hasn't Taken Place As Players Debate Agreement

The NFLPA, or union formerly known as the NFLPA, was supposed to vote on the terms of an agreement to end the NFL lockout on Wednesday, clearing one of the final hurdles left between the two sides and a return to football. But it hasn't happened as of yet, and there is some strong dissension in the room as the players debate amongst themselves on the terms of an agreement negotiated by Roger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith and a team of representatives from both the player and owner sides.

So, time to panic, right? We were all told the vote was a formality and these hurdles would be minor compared to what it took to reach an agreement. Chris Mortensen reminds the American public that this is a normal part of the process, and is consistent with the environment union leaders thought they'd meet on Wednesday.

There is real debate & some dissent on certain issues w/ proposal. Part of process but consistent w Mawae's assessment. No rubberstamping. It doesn't mean there won't be a vote at some point, it is not unsual to hear about such debate at this stage. These things are fluid and can change swiftly so no reason to over-react as this point.

There's still plenty of time to vote on Wednesday and it's unlikely the players leave their meeting without taking a vote to ratify the agreement. But part of the process includes a healthy debate and explanation of the major issues before jumping into ratifying the deal. The NFLPA is doing its due-diligence one more time in the final stages of the NFL lockout.

While the players aren't quite back to work yet, it seems all but certain that the NFL will be back in action within the next week or so. And when the action begins again, the schedule will be unlike anything we've ever seen before, with a free agency period that resembles a chaotic, and high-stakes, game of roulette.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Negotiations Slowed; Court Rules On Earlier Injunction

It's been a busy day in the land of the NFL lockout, triggered by a surprise decision from the 8th circuit court. The NFL and NFLPA have been hard at work recently, working toward a settlement that would allow the lockout to be lifted and for a new collective bargaining agreement to be put in place. And while the 8th circuit court was expected to rule on whether a lockout was legal at some point, many believed the decision would be placed on the back-burner as the league and players hammered out a settlement; talks have been full of progress and a deal may be near already.

But on Friday morning, the court issued its ruling on the NFL's appeal of Judge Susan Nelson's ruling that the lockout should be lifted. The 8th circuit court of appeals ruled the lockout was legal, however, giving the owners a bit of momentum heading into the late stages of negotiations. Though the ruling was for the owners, it may not have that great of an affect -- the two sides have already come far enough that the issue should be able to be settled at the bargaining table.

Progress in these late stages of negotiations is slow, with both sides working over key issues in hopes of reaching an agreeable settlement. Lengthy meetings were held Friday in New York, and may continue throughout the weekend, though it's unclear if the talks will go into overtime with the deadline to reach an agreement to save the preseason looming.

Albert Breer: Regardless, again, still hearing very little progress on key issues. They're still working, but seems like movement has slowed seriously.

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter, however, was hopeful, tweeting he expects an agreement by the middle of next week and for the league to begin its offseason shortly thereafter.

Having said all of that, look for a cba agreement by the middle of next week, with league biz to resume a week or so after that.

A deal may be close, but plenty of work is left to be done. With a deadline looming, let's hope the lockout finally ends once and for all.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Talks Could Head Into Overtime This Weekend

With negotiations to end the NFL lockout at a critical point, key players from the NFL and NFLPA may work overtime to get a deal done in an effort to avoid the loss of preseason games. The deadline to get a season underway without losing training camp and exhibition games is near, and while progress is being made in the collective bargaining agreement talks, there's still plenty of work to be done to hammer out an agreement.

According to Washington Post NFL reporter Mark Maske, the owners and players may hunker down and work during the weekend in New York.

This round of negotiations potentially could extend into the weekend if there's enough progress on Thursday and Friday. The weekend talks would come in part because some on the ownership side believe it's getting very close to preseason games being canceled.

The reason for the extended round of talks, Maske says, is due to the time it will take to create a formal deal once an agreement is reached. Maske believes it will take 10 to 12 days for a formal agreement to be drafted once the owners and players reach a verbal understanding. Even if an agreement is reached by the end of this weekend, the NFL still risks losing part of training camp and, perhaps, a portion of the preseason.

The lawyers are taking their turn at the table on Tuesday and Wednesday, doing preliminary work in an effort to expedite the process of creating a formal agreement. To be clear, no deal has been reached and talks are still at a critical phase, but the lawyers are working ahead with a deadline looming.

NFL Lockout Update: Negotiations Still Tenuous; Lawyers Drafting Agreement Language

The NFL lockout meetings are still in a critical phase, with talks teetering on the edge of a cliff as training camp nears. Though progress has been made, the month of July is critical, and could make-or-break plans to get a full season of play, including a full training camp, in. Last week illustrated the point clearly -- talks nearly broke down during a marathon session on Thursday before getting back on track in the wee hours of the night.

On Tuesday, talks resumed in New York, with lawyers entering the fray to draft preliminary language for an agreement. While it may seem like a positive sign, the presence of lawyers does not necessarily mean a deal is imminent. Instead, look at it as a preemptive measure aimed at speeding up the process of completing a new collective bargaining agreement, whenever it is the two sides are able to reach an understanding.

Sources on both sides maintain there remains significant work to be completed after negotiations almost disintegrated last week before "getting back on track." The same sources say that an agreement is within reach but unlikely to be achieved this week.

However, the attorneys' work on language is aimed at an expedited finishing process in the event the two sides do strike an agreement. Tuesday is Day 112 of the lockout.

Truth be told, nobody has an idea when the NFL lockout may come to an end. While few believe a deal will be agreed upon this week, it's possible the owners and players could come to an agreement by the end of the month.

However, with the scheduled start date of training camp fast approaching, it's still unclear whether teams will be able to get a full slate of training camp sessions and exhibition games in. After all, once a deal is reached, whenever that may be, the NFL offseason must then begin, allowing teams to sign free agents and go through the typical transactions that normally occur in the late spring and early summer months.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Meetings Produce Hope, Possible Agreement Draft

After a marathon day of NFL lockout meetings on Thursday and another short meeting on Friday, the players and owners may have finally come to some kind of agreement, though it's tough to tell whether the end is near. The lockout talks hit a snag earlier this week when revenue sharing proposals rubbed the players the wrong way, according to a report on Thursday. But the two sides kept at it, meeting well into the night on Thursday during a day of meetings that totaled 15 hours.

Now we have word lawyers are working up a proposal to present to the NFLPA. Though no formal meetings are scheduled until Tuesday in New York, after the holiday weekend, work on a collective bargaining agreement is still ongoing. According to NFL PR man Greg Aiello, a draft of an agreement is in the works on Saturday.

This, of course, is a positive sign. If the NFL sees it fit to draft an actual, formal agreement, it could mean talks are coming to a close and the lockout may be nearing the finish line. But, again, nothing is concrete until an agreement is finalized and voted on, and the negotiations are still in a critical phase.

Hope floats in the NFL lockout talks, and fans are holding out hope the work stoppage comes to an end sooner rather than later. Saturday's news should breed hope that the lockout is near an end, though, and football may still get underway without losing any games.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Meetings Become Marathon With Lengthy Negotiation Sessions

The NFL lockout meetings reportedly took a step backwards on Thursday after the owners and players disagreed on how to split the revenue. Throughout the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the NFL and NFLPA have argued over the percentages of revenue each side would take under a new deal, with the owners lobbying for a credit off the top before a split takes place. After the expense seemed to have been a thing of the past, it reared its ugly head again on Thursday.

That's not to say either side got up and walked away in disgust. In fact, Thursday's meeting was a marathon, with negotiations taking place over the course of a 15-hour day. The two sides came together early Thursday and stayed until early morning hours on Friday. After a few hours of rest, the owners and players got back at it on Friday, meeting in a shortened session before calling it quits for the holiday weekend.

According to a report from ESPN, the mood appeared to be light as Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith left the meetings. The negotiations will move from Minneapolis to New York City on Tuesday, as well.

Several people familiar with the situation said the talks would resume Tuesday in New York City. The people all spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because Boylan has ordered the details of the talks to be kept confidential.

Goodell, Smith, their colleagues and constituents all appeared in good spirits as they left the office building where they met and either walked away or climbed into black cars waiting by the doors.

It's anyone's guess whether a deal will get done in the near-future or if we're still weeks away. But it is clear the NFL lockout negotiations are at a critical point and the details being hammered-out are key to any agreement. It's crunch-time for the NFL with the scheduled start of training camp nearing, and a deal must be reached in the near-future to ensure football starts on time.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Talks Hit Snag Thanks To Revenue Discrepancy

In the world of the NFL lockout and labor talks, it's all about the money. Specifically, the ongoing labor talks have centered around the revenue distribution model meant to divvy up the money between the players and owners. The owners want to take a cut off the top before doling out a percentage of the revenue while the players are looking for a simplified formula that simply distributes the revenue by a percentage.

While talks have been civil and encouraging, the negotiations reportedly took a step backwards on Thursday after the owners brought expense credits back into the mix. Before the reported snag, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith had been playing nice, even flying to the NFL Rookie Symposium together. But now, the revenue issue has reared its ugly head, and has the players upset again.

Player sources reaffirmed that a setback in talks occurred when owners last week went "retro" on the formula that will divide the estimated $9.3 billion in annual revenue. Whereas the players believed the two sides had reached an understanding on a simplified formula in which they would receive 48 percent of all revenue, sources say owners re-introduced its previous formual by asking for $400 million-to-$500 million in expenses credits off the top.

The credit, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, cuts another three percent, or thereabouts, from the players' take of the revenue. While that doesn't seem like a big number, it's significant when looking at the $9.3 billion revenue pot the two sides are splitting. Again, it's all about the money.

The revenue issue has always been the biggest stumbling block in negotiations, with both sides wrangling over billions of dollars. If the two sides can figure out how to split-up the money, it would appear few other hurdles remain. But it's a big if, and any major disagreements could set the talks back significantly as the NFL lockout drags on.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Update: Roger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith Play Civil, Speak To NFL Rookies

Over the last few months, the NFL lockout talks have been contentious at best, with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell engaging in a war of words, both at the bargaining table and in the media. The two have been far from friendly, battling it out for their constituencies while working towards a new collective bargaining agreement. Because of the tension-filled negotiations and ongoing lockout, the two have kept their distance from each other, only coming together in a controlled setting at meetings and the bargaining table.

Until now. On Tuesday, Smith and Goodell hopped in a plane, traveling from Minnesota to the NFL Rookie Symposium. Before a larger group of players and owners arrive in Minnesota for another round of talks, Smith and Goodell put on a united face, in a way, taking questions from rookies at the symposium. NFLPA spokesman George Attalah called the appearance important and said the two fielded poignant questions about the immediate future of the NFL.

"It was important that the players see this is not personal," Atallah said. "It was important that the players see that (Goodell and Smith) can work through their differences in a constructive way, and that hopefully sooner rather than later they'll be playing football."

Thursday marks another important step as the players and owners join the discussion. Until now, Smith, Goodell and a small team of lawyers have been hammering out details at the bargaining table, but now the two will have to present their progress to the masses. If they can convince the larger group that negotiations are headed in the right direction and the key issues have been sufficiently agreed upon, we could end up with football sooner rather than later.

The progress this week is as important as any of the other events that have occurred during the lockout and could go a long way towards restoring order. If all goes well, it may only be a short time before football makes a return after the discouraging lockout and labor dispute.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout May Be In Settlement Stages As Players, Owners Meet In Secret

It’s not often that we can say canceling planned mediation talks is a good thing, but that appears to be the case on Thursday with regards to the NFL lockout. According to an earlier report, the NFL’s big-wigs, including Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft, have been meeting with key players from the players’ side in secret at an airport in Chicago. A joint statement from the NFL and NFLPA confirmed the meetings earlier on Thursday, but added that the meetings are confidential and failed to explain why the two sides were meeting in secret.

Now we may now why. According to SportsBusiness Journal’s Daniel Kaplan, the Minnesota federal court has canceled the mediation sessions set for next week, which would be bad news if not for the fact that a settlement may be near.

The minnesota federal court has cancelled mediation set next week saying it is engaged in confidential settlement talks with the parties

Connecting the dots, Kaplan’s report adds up. Until now, the NFL and NFLPA have waged their war in the eyes of the public, taking to the media and attempting to draw the support of the public. It’s strange that suddenly both sides would go dark and attempt to secretly slip away to Chicago for the typical, court-ordered mediation when the process has been so public. But should the NFL and NFLPA be working on a settlement, the secrecy and confidentiality would make sense. After all, it seems the best work is always done is secret, away from the public eyes, when it comes to settling such a large-scale case.

While nobody is quite sure how the talks are going, canceling the mediation sessions has to be seen as a positive at this point. If a settlement is coming, as many are hoping, it’s likely to come fast. And if it does, the NFL will suddenly lurch to life, ending our long national nightmare.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout: Secret Meetings Between NFL, NFLPA Taking Place In Chicago

Though we have no idea what, exactly, is going on in Chicago this week, we do know Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones and other league heavy-hitters are in town to meet with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and some of the chiefs from the players side. As the NFL lockout continues to drag on, the secret meetings — well, secret until a reporter from Chicago found them — must be seen as an encouraging sign. The two sides have been battling it out in court since the lockout began, with the players filing an injunction and alleging antitrust violations in an effort to get the work-stoppage lifted, at least temporarily.

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Goodell, Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others flew into a small airport in Chicago earlier this week for an unknown reason. As time has passed, information has continued to trickle out, forcing the NFL and NFLPA to release a joint statement that is more cryptic than revealing.

"The parties met pursuant to court mediation. Owners and players were engaged in confidential discussions before Chief Magistrate Judge Boylan. The court has ordered continued confidentiality of the mediation sessions."

So there’s that. While the two sides are meeting, and have now acknowledged as much, it’s unknown whether any progress is being made. The NFL has admitted the effects of lockout are beginning to manifest themselves in dwindling fan-interest and traffic to NFL.com, but it’s unclear whether the owners are still willing to ride the process out and see how far the legal proceedings go. At last check, the owners won a stay after the lockout was lifted for just a few days around the NFL Draft, allowing them to continue to work-stoppage once again.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout.

NFL Lockout Lifted, Seattle Seahawks Players Denied Access To VMAC

The NFL lockout is technically over, at least for the time being. On Monday, Judge Susan Nelson granted an immediate injunction to the players, lifting the lockout and sending the labor negotiations into a gray area. Players were notified of the ruling by the NFLPA, which is now functioning as a trade organization, and told they were free to report to work at their team facilities. Though many are in a “wait and see” holding pattern, some did choose to show up at team headquarters, including a few Seattle Seahawks.

But when Seahawks receiver Deon Butler, running back Justin Forsett and others showed up at the VMAC on Tuesday, they were turned away. Though the parking lot was unlocked, they were unable to get into the building, and left shortly thereafter.

Butler — who is recovering from a broken leg suffered in December — was hoping to see a trainer. Instead, he and Lewis headed to the gym in Sammamish where the two have been rehabilitating.

It’s players like Butler that need access to team facilities the most. Those rehabbing football-related injuries have been unable to receive the care they need during the lockout. Yet even with the lockout technically lifted, the Seahawks didn’t extend the courtesy, joining the Buffalo Bills in denying access to team facilities.

There were teams allowing players in for limited activities, though weight rooms were typically locked for liability reasons, but completely denying access endangers the Seahawks of being in contempt of court. While the lockout is on hold, players should be allowed into the facilities, despite the gray area of legality.

Besides, it’s terrible public relations for Butler to show up and be turned away while recovering from his injury.

For the latest news and updates on the ongoing labor battle, stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream. Head over to Field Gulls for a breakdown of the lockout and what Nelson’s ruling means.

NFL Lockout 2011: New York Jets Coaches Forced To Take Paycuts, Furloughs

Roger Goodell isn’t the only person taking a paycut now that an NFL lockout has begun. While Goodell made the choice to cut his salary to $1, other league personnel aren’t so lucky. NFL Films, NFL.com and other staffers have already had their salaries reduced, with further cuts expected as the lockout drags on.

In addition to league personnel, coaches are also feeling the effects of the lockout already. The New York Jets announced its coaching staff will take mandatory furloughs and 25 percent paycuts for the duration of the lockout in an attempt to cut costs. And the Jets won’t be the only team forced to take such measures (via Manish Mehta).

#Jets confirm furloughs & coaches’ 25 percent paycuts are in effect now that lockout has commenced. #nfl #nyj. #NYJ on furlough/paycuts:“Our plans are in effect. This is a fluid situation. We will obviously be evaluating our approach as events unfold.”

Jets owner Woody Johnson, like Robert Kraft and other owners, added he was confident a deal would get done without football being interrupted this season.

You’ll see this across the league as the lockout drags on as teams try to cut down on spending while bracing for the possibility of missed games. With a work stoppage in place, revenue streams will slow, if not dry up entirely. Judge David Doty’s decision to freeze the league’s television revenue in the event of a work stoppage takes away the owners’ insurance policy, as well, making the cost-cutting measures necessary.

From top to bottom, everyone in the league is affected by the lockout. Players are on unemployment — though little sympathy is expected for the top-earners — owners are claiming poverty and the league personnel, those that make the whole show work, are facing mandatory paycuts.

For the latest, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout 2011: NFLPA, Owners Both Lose With Work Stoppage

No matter how you slice it, Saturday is a bad day for the NFL and its players. Following a week of intense negotiations, a new collective bargaining agreement never materialized as the NFL Players Association dissolved and the league locked the players out at the stroke of midnight. The lockout isn’t the end of the process, but exists as a significant bump in the road for the NFL as the league works to resolve its current labor dispute.

Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Chad Pennington called the decision to decertify necessary while praising the union for taking a stand.

“Some unions would not have made such a bold move because they are about the ‘union’ and not its workers,” he added. “I still think that a compromise will be reached. This is just the nature of the situation, and that’s why they call it ‘business.’”

Sure, it’s just business, but it’s business that hurts all involved — from those forced to take pay-cuts to the fans stuck in the middle while watching the fight unfold. The players and owners are each acting in their own best interests, engaging in a high-stakes poker game with billions of dollars on the table. And it’s all done in a messy way, with both sides sniping at each other in a public way.

Calling one side a winner and one a loser after the week’s proceedings would be a disservice. In this situation, everyone loses. For the first time in more than two decades, it’s come to a work stoppage for the NFL, the nation’s biggest professional sports organization.

And it’s an incredible shame.

For the latest on the work stoppage, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Roger Goodell Cuts Salary To $1, League Staff Facing Pay Cuts

In a purely symbolic move, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made good on his promise, cutting his salary to $1 following the owners decision to lock the players out. Goodell and NFL general counsel Jeff Pash both promised to slice their seven-figure salaries to a single dollar in the event of a lockout, and did so on Saturday. The owners voted to lock the players out on Friday, with the first work stoppage since 1987 beginning at 12 a.m., early Saturday morning.

Goodell isn’t the only one losing money on a lockout, however. Paychecks to players have stopped and personnel throughout the league will be taking forced pay-cuts, as well.

Also taking cuts will be all league personnel at the New York headquarters, NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J., and at NFL Network and NFL.com in Culver City. For now, salaries for those league employees will be reduced by 12%.

Goodell and Pash’s decision to take $1 salaries is nothing more than a symbolic public relations move. Goodell reportedly takes in a salary of $10 million per year while Pash brings in $5 million. Cutting their salaries may have some kind of affect, but it’s likely neither will be hurting for cash anytime soon.

More important are the cuts other personnel, including those listed above, have been forced to take. These are people not pulling in six- and seven-figure paychecks, showing the broad reach of the lockout. It’s not just players and executives hit hard, but the people that make the league go. The longer the lockout drags on, the more those personnel stand to lose, with pay-cuts expected to continue growing as the work stoppage rolls on.

For the latest, visit the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout 2011: DeMaurice Smith Releases Lockout Letter Showing NFL Planned Work Stoppage

The NFL has maintained the players forced its hand by decertifying, making it necessary to institute a work stoppage and begin a lockout. If the statements of Robert Kraft and others are to be believed, the lockout was reactionary and unplanned — done as a result of the NFLPA’s decision to decertify. Every statement released by the NFL and its owners has pointed to the union, blaming the players for walking away from negotiations.

But in a letter released by NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, it’s clear the NFL planned a lockout no matter what, should a new collective bargaining agreement not be reached. The letter, dated March 11, outlines what the lockout entails while making it clear the owners would begin a work stoppage if an agreement wasn’t reached by 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

The letter can be viewed at the NFLPA’s lockout website. Smith released a few of the major points of the letter, and what a lockout means for the players, in a statement accompanying the scanned documents.

On March 11, Dennis Curran, Senior VP of Labor Litigation and Policy, writes that if a new CBA is not reached by 11:59 p.m., the League will send a letter to teams to be forwarded to its players explaining the terms of the Lockout.

This was to be done regardless of decertification.

A lockout is in place for now, though players have filed an injunction in an effort to block the lockout. A decision on the injunction could be made as early as next week. If successful, the lockout would be put on hold, at least temporarily.

Be sure to visit our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest updates.

NFL Lockout 2011: Robert Kraft Adds Fuel To Public Relations Fire

The NFL and NFL Players Association have taken the battle for a new collective bargaining agreement to the media, and the results haven’t been pretty. The NFL has accused the union of planning for litigation all along, never bargaining in good faith at the negotiating table during the process. Those calls grew louder on Friday as the union filed decertification papers, allowing its players to individually file lawsuits and injunctions to stop the lockout and, perhaps, break the owners.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft spit out the same statements as the rest of the owners have on Saturday, accusing the union of failing to bargain in good faith and planning for a battle in the courtroom all along. Kraft added he was confident a deal would get done, however, as he talked in circles.

“I think the actions of the union to end the mediation process and walk away from Friday’s offer clearly showed their true intentions to take this process to litigation all along,” Kraft said in a statement released by the team. “While disappointed by their action to decertify, I remain confident that an agreement will be reached and that the 2011 season will be played.

The owners will continue to say the union refused to bargain while the union will counter with accusations of a lack of transparency from the owners. After all, it was the owners planning a work stoppage, a lockout, not the players. This isn’t a strike, it’s a lockout, with the employers taking the initiative.

It’s up to the public to decide which side is right or wrong, but when the owners are crying poverty while refusing to open their books and give a glimpse into just how impoverished they are, it’s tough to take their words serious. It came to a head when the union felt it had to decertify and file a lawsuit after little progress was made at the bargaining table, even with a week-long extension.

With bargaining over, the fight heads becomes a legal battle with a side of public relations. It’s yet unknown how long a lockout could last, if the season will be threatened or how long an antitrust lawsuit could drag out.

Stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest as more becomes available.

NFL Lockout: Injunction Decision Could Come Quickly

The players filed an injunction in an effort to block an NFL lockout on Friday as part of two pieces of litigation that have been expected all along. One — an antitrust lawsuit — is the big lawsuit with the potential to be the type of legal action that forces a compromise in the new collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The antitrust suit won’t be settled overnight, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how long it will take before a resolution is reached.

The injunction, formally a preliminary injunction seeking to halt a work stoppage, should take significantly less time to sort out. The process is quick, and could be decided upon in the next week. Pro Football Talk explained what the injunction is and what it means for the lockout this morning, bebunking a few of the myths.

A motion for preliminary injunction can be resolved in a matter of days, or in a matter of weeks. At this point, no one knows how quickly, or how slowly, the federal court in Minnesota will move. If, as the league fully expects, the case will be assigned to Judge David Doty based on his 20-plus-years of expertise in NFL labor matters, Doty would then schedule a hearing — and he could issue a ruling from the bench at the end of the hearing, or at some point thereafter.

Doty has been presiding over the other legal battles thus far, overruling an earlier opinion on television revenue during the lockout and preventing owners from keeping a steady source of income during a work stoppage. Having Doty take the injunction would likely be good news for the players, who have already won an important legal battle with his revenue ruling. It’s yet unknown whether he would also take the antitrust case.

So while a lockout is in place as of now, it may not be the case next week. If Doty, or whoever takes the case, puts the injunction in place, the lockout would, effectively, end for the duration of the injunction. If the union played its cards right, the players are in a perfect position to gain an injunction while also winning the potential antitrust case. It remains to be seen whether that’s the case, though.

For the latest on the work stoppage, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: NFL Hires David Boies And Paul Clement To Defend NFLPA Antitrust Lawsuit

The NFL is bracing for a lengthy legal battle after Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and eight others filed an antitrust lawsuit on Friday. The lawsuit came after the NFLPA filed decertification papers, becoming a professional trade association and dissolving as a union. The decertification papers and lawsuit came just hours ahead of the owners’ vote to begin a lockout, the first work stoppage for the NFL since 1987.

The NFL has lawyered up as it braces for the impending legal battle, bringing on two attorneys to defend the antitrust lawsuit. According to reports, the NFL has hired David Boies and Paul Clement to defend its case in Minnesota.

Boies is known for his work in 2000, when he represented Al Gore in the election dispute. The report comes from Ralph Vacciano, who covers the Giants for the New York Daily News.

Here come the big guns. The NFL just hired attorney David Boies, who represented Al Gore after the disputed 2000 presidential election.

Both sides are getting series, forming legal teams and preparing for litigation that could have ramifications down the line for both sides. The financial stakes high — in the hundreds of millions, should the players win the case — and the possibility of a long-lasting affect on how the NFL does business is hanging in the balance.

For the latest, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Gregg Levy Calls Decertification 'A Sham'

The NFLPA filed its decertification papers on Friday, dissolving in the face of an NFL lockout in an effort to take the battle to the courts. The decision to decertify was immediate followed by an antitrust lawsuit, filed by Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and others, an expected development. In addition to the antitrust lawsuit, the players also filed an injunction in an attempt to block a lockout, though a work stoppage did begin at the stroke of midnight, early Saturday morning.

The NFL responded with a statement by Gregg Levy, counsel for the league. In it, Levy called the decertification a sham, comparing it to the NFLPA’s attempt to decertify in 1990.

"The union only pretended to decertify in 1990. As history has confirmed, that purported decertification was a sham," Levy said. "In an effort to protect its ability to repeat the fraud a second time, the union tried in the White settlement to limit the NFL’s ability to challenge in an antitrust court any future attempt by the union to pull off a similar sham. But that limitation could have applied only if the purported decertification occurred after expiration of the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.

The NFL and NFLPA are engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken with billions of dollars on the line. Both sides are bluffing and calling each others bluffs, all in an effort to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of the next collective bargaining agreement, whenever it may come.

The NFLPA asked for 10 years of financial records, threatening to decertify if its demands weren't met. The NFL called the bluff, refusing to put the records on the table. Ahead of the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement, the union filed for decertification, dissolving the union temporarily.

Whether it’s a sham or not, the NFLPA has filed papers to decertify and the players have filed an antitrust lawsuit. With so much money at stake, expect a nasty legal battle, as well as a battle in the court of public opinion. Now, with mediation off the table, the media war is expected to be more intense as both sides attempt to sway the fans. In short, it won’t be pretty and Levy’s statement is the first of many.

For the latest on the negotiations and litigation, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Antitrust Lawsuit Filed By Peyton Manning, Von Miller, Others

Almost immediately after the NFLPA filed decertification papers, the expected antitrust lawsuit was filed by a group of 10 players, including plenty of NFL stars. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and others filed the paperwork in Minnesota on Friday, taking the battle from the bargaining table to the courtroom. Additionally, the 10 players filed an injunction to block a lockout, though the planned lockout went into affect at midnight on Friday night.

The antitrust lawsuit attacks the foundation of the NFL, claiming the NFL Draft, salary cap and free agency rules all break antitrust laws. Though it will take some time for the courts to sort it all out, the stakes are incredibly high, both in a punitive sense and an operating sense.

Invoking the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust statute from 1890 that limits monopolies and restrictions on commerce, the players are seeking triple the amount of damages they’ve incurred. That means the stakes could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Should the players win, the NFL would owe a large amount of money in damages. More importantly, though, if the league’s policies are in violation of antitrust statues, the league would be forced to alter how it operates. A successful challenge could be more damaging to owners than losing money at the bargaining table in a new revenue sharing plan.

Stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest as we break down what this all means and whether the 2011 season is in jeopardy.

NFL Lockout Begins After Midnight Deadline Passes

There was no last-ditch effort to stop a lockout or last-minute deal: At 12 a.m. Eastern on Friday night, the NFL lockout began. Owners made it official earlier in the evening, and with the quiet passage of time, a work stoppage started. In the immediate, it means little: Players cannot be signed, free agency is stalled and teams can have no contact with players. But the threat of a season without football, while still far off, is real.

The NFL released a statement early Saturday morning confirming reports of a lockout while lamenting it came to this.

The league said in a statement Saturday it was “taking the difficult but necessary step of exercising its right under federal labor low to impose a lockout of the union.”

The lockout is the first work stoppage in the NFL since 1987.

The NFL lockout comes on the heels of the NFLPA’s decision to decertify on Friday, ceasing to be the bargaining union for the players and, instead, becoming a professional trade association. With the union dissolved, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and others filed an antitrust lawsuit, the first of many litigation battles to likely take place during the lockout. The players may also file an injunction to put a stop to the lockout, as well.

The NFL and NFLPA were still too far apart on the money issue with about $1 billion hanging in the balance. The NFLPA asked for 10 years of complete financial records from the league as a prerequisite for any further extension, but the league balked at the proposal, sending the negotiations into a tailspin. Without financial transparency, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith decided it was time to walk away and decertify.

It’s unknown how long a lockout could last, though both sides appear to be digging in for a long legal battle. If it drags on through the summer, the possibility of a shortened season, or one without football, increases, but is still a long-shot. Look for talks to heat up as the threat of losing games draws closer.

For more on the proceedings, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: NFLPA Decertification Means Agent Regulation Will End, According To Reports

After the NFLPA filed decertification papers on Friday, word came down indicating the union would discontinue its agent regulation system, as well. While decertification is the major storyline, along with a potential NFL lockout, it’s the lack of regulation that could be damaging to the sport, especially at the college level, in the immediate future. The NCAA is already fighting an agent problem and without proper regulation from a governing body, agents can, theoretically, do whatever they’d like at any level.

The report comes from Pro Football Management, obtained from an email indicating the NFLPA has decided to kill its agent regulation system.

One immediate consequence of decertification, Ive already received an email saying the NFLPA is discontiniuing its agent regulation system.

It means, in essence, the agents have open season on almost everything. Without a regulation system, agents have no rules, though they already operate in shades of gray. From tampering — dealing with another agent’s player — to working amateurs — enforced by the NCAA — the possibilities are endless.

Poaching is the biggest concern as agents quickly work to secure new clients. One agent has reportedly already begun attempts to poach, according to CBS Sports.

That didn’t take long…NFL agent to CBSSports.com: “One of my clients said another agent is already trying to poach him.” Vultures.

This doesn’t mean the apocalypse is upon us. There are still levels of regulation, from NCAA rules to laws, that prevent agents from crossing boundaries. It does, however, take away a layer of protection, and the fear of unemployment. Previously, the NFLPA was responsible for sanctioning its agents, as well as certifying them to work with NFL players. As the regulation system ends, at least temporarily, some of the safeguards end with it.

While it’s nice to think agents have the morals and values to play within the rules, it’s also unrealistic. Agents have, for better or worse, been painted as slimy figures willing to do whatever it takes to reach the goal. Without the NFLPA looking over their shoulder, a messy situation could erupt. While it’s not a story that rivals the impending lockout, it’s an intriguing subplot to the bigger story.

For the latest, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: NFLPA, Owners Release Statements Following Union Decertification

Following the NFLPA’s decision to decertify after mediation failed on Friday, both the union and owners released separate statements expressing disappointment while spelling out what the choice to decertify means. Union chief DeMaurice Smith had requested 10 years of audited financial records as a prerequisite to any extension, but with talks breaking down the decision was made to take the battle to the courts.

Mediator George Cohen chimed in, adding talks were going nowhere and “no useful purpose would be served” by continuing the mediation process. Though small concessions had been made during the past week following an extension to the current collective bargaining agreement, the two sides were still far apart on the big issues in the negotiations.

Smith released his own statement, outlining the union’s next plans. The NFLPA will become a trade association, giving up its status as the exclusive collective bargaining association with the NFL.

“The NFL Players Association … has renounced its status as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of the players of the NFL. The NFLPA will move forward as a professional trade association with the mission of supporting the interests and rights of the current and former professional football players.”

The owners, on the other hand, said the NFLPA left a “good deal” on the table and walked away from the talks to pursue litigation.

The union left a very good deal on the table. It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

The next logical step is litigation, with players likely filing an antitrust lawsuit against the league. All indications point to a lengthy legal battle as both sides dig in for the long haul. It doesn’t mean the 2011 season is in jeopardy yet, but the fight could get messier than it’s been already.

For the latest, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Union Decertifies After Last-Minute Meetings Fail

What was on and off throughout the last hour is now official: The NFLPA has filed for decertification ahead of the impending NFL Lockout. Union chief DeMaurice Smith implored the NFL to open its books as a caveat to any extension, but a deal never materialized, leaving Smith and the union no choice but to decertify. With the union dissolved, the battle leaves the bargaining table and heads to the courts, with both sides dug in for a long lockout.

Multiple sources have confirmed the reports, including Chris Mortensen and Albert Breer. Earlier reports indicating the NFLPA had decertified were debunked as the two sides worked at the last-minute to strike a deal, but to no avail.

After spending the last two years working at the bargaining table in an attempt to agree upon a new collective bargaining agreement, the fight is about to get nasty, with a lengthy legal battle on the table. The players are expected to file individual antitrust lawsuits, with Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning heading up one such lawsuit.

In addition, the players can also file injunctions to block a lockout when it occurs. The NFL must still hold a vote amongst its owners to formally stop work, creating a lockout situation. When a work stoppage commences, the players are expected to go back to Judge David Doty to stop a lockout.

For the latest, browse the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: DeMaurice Smith Wants 10 Years Of NFL Financial Records For An Extension

There’s still a chance the NFL and NFLPA could extend the current collective bargaining agreement, but union executive director DeMaurice Smith wants full financial disclosure ahead of any agreement. Smith, at the 11th hour during the final meetings, has demanded 10 years of NFL financial records, saying the union will only agree to an extension when that happens. The NFLPA has been lobbying for the financial records throughout the negotiations, but to no avail.

Football Outsider’s Doug Farrar had the best take on the demands, saying Smith and the union can’t lose.

Smith wins either way. He either breaks the owners to release data, or he heads off to a judge who just bitch-slapped the owners out of $4b

Judge David Doty is overseeing the proceedings, and ruled in the union’s favor last week, preventing the owners from accessing $4 billion in television revenue should a lockout occur. The players could file an injunction with Doty or individual players could file an antitrust lawsuit against the league, as well.

Either way, Smith has laid his cards on the table and made his biggest play yet with a lockout deadline looming. If a deal cannot be reached, the NFLPA will likely decertify by the end of the day, which would be followed by a lockout vote from the owners.

For the latest, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: NFLPA, Owners Still Meeting, Decertification Reports Debunked For Now

Just minutes after the NFL Network reported the NFLPA planned to file decertification papers on Friday, the report was retracted and news indicating the two sides were still meeting emerged. The collective bargaining agreement negotiations have become a game of cat and mouse, with both sides throwing everything on the table, including bluffs, to get a deal done. The NFLPA and owners have until the close of business on Friday to get a deal done in an attempt to avoid a lockout.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the two sides are meeting as we speak as a final, desperate attempt to make some progress. The two sides have been meeting all day, though it’s unclear how much movement, if any, has occurred on the key issues.

The union has been threatening decertification, and an antitrust lawsuit, since negotiations stalled, but maintain it’s the last resort. Filing for decertification would allow the players to individually file lawsuits against the team, as well as attempt to block the lockout with an injunction. While it’s not ideal, the players have said decertification could be their only option at this point.

Whatever happens, we should have a resolution within the next hour or so with the deadline looming. Stay with out NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest from the negotiations.

NFLPA Set To File For Decertification Ahead Of NFL Lockout Deadline, According To Report

After an extension in negotiations that lasted a week, and with the negotiation deadline looming, set for 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, the NFLPA has decided to decertify in an effort to take the battle to the courts. This time around, no extension was reached and a deal could not be made, leaving the union no choice but to decertify. The next step, reportedly, is for the union to file an antitrust lawsuit, with Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady likely to lead the charge.

The report of the NFLPA's decision to file for decertification comes from the NFL Network. The decision to file for decertification required a unanimous vote from the players, though the union had reportedly been lobbying for it throughout the last few months.

Edit: The NFL Network is retracting the report, saying someone, perhaps the union, has asked for a delay. The NFLPA has not dissolved as of now.

With the NFLPA choosing to decerify, a lockout is all but assured. The owners will now have to vote on a work stoppage, reportedly just a formality and set to take place on Friday. With a work stoppage in place, players will be unable to sign with new teams and roster moves will suddenly grind to a halt. The NFL Draft will go on as planned, but teams will not be able to trade players during it -- only draft picks.

It's unclear how long a lockout, or the NFLPA's legal battle, could last, but it appears we're in for the long haul as the two sides were nowhere near reaching a consensus on revenue sharing issues. The union did win an important legal battle last week, preventing owners from pocketing television revenue during a lockout after Judge David Doty overturned an earlier decision that would've allowed the NFL to earn some $4 billion during a lockout. It's possible that decision prevents the owners from digging in for a long lockout lasting well into the season.

At 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, the current collective bargaining agreement will expire, putting the NFL into no-man's land without a deal. Stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest on the negotiations as the NFLPA and owners work towards a solution, one way or another. To commiserate with Seahawks fans, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

NFLPA Shoots Down NFL's 18 Game Proposal During CBA Negotiations

The NFL has been pushing for an 18 game regular season schedule since the collective bargaining agreement negotiations began. The proposal, made in an effort to increase revenue by adding more product to the league’s portfolio, was met with vehement disagreement by the players, with worries about healthy at the forefront. A 16 game schedule already exacts a toll on the player’s bodies, and an 18 game schedule, along with the playoffs, increases the likelihood players will break down sooner, shortening careers.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said an 18 game proposal was going nowhere, and is off the table in negotiations. Smith cited health and safety concerns while shooting down the idea on Wednesday.

“First of all, the league has never presented a formal proposal for 18 games,” he told SI.com. “But more importantly, it’s something that our players don’t want. Eighteen games is not in the best interest of our players’ safety, so we’re not doing it.”

The main point of contention is still revenue sharing, with the NFL and NFLPA reportedly about $1 billion apart in negotiations. The owners had been pushing for an 18 game schedule, though it was never formally proposed, according to Smith. In the end, it’s still about money, with the NFLPA imploring the league to open its financial records before negotiating further.

The two sides will continue to negotiate through Friday following last week’s extension of the current CBA, preventing a lockout. If a deal is not reached by then, the NFLPA and owners could agree to another extension, or the owners could vote to lock the players out.

Stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest on the negotiations as more becomes available.

NFL Players Association, Owners At Odds Over Financial Data With NFL Lockout Looming

The NFL Players Association wants the league to open its books in an effort to figure out just how much money teams are bringing in. The data in question is detailed, involving the records of all 32 teams, not just the league's financial data. It's a battle that's been waged for almost two years, and the major sticking points in collective bargaining agreement negotiations that could lead to a lockout.

The financial data is a key for the NFLPA as revenue sharing is discussed. The owners have, essentially, been claiming poverty despite the league bringing in billions of dollars in revenue. Open books, and the ability to establish how much revenue the teams have been bringing in compared to the operating costs associated with running an NFL franchise may help accelerate negotiations that have stalled as the two sides remain about $1 billion apart.

On Wednesday, it was all about financial disclosure, with the league offering some level of transparency and the NFLPA counter it wasn't enough. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith is looking for everything -- including total operating income, total operating expenses, profit, net income and more -- while the NFL countered with the following:

• audited league-wide profitability data with dollar figures from 2005 to 2009, based on individual club statements;

• the number of teams that have seen a shift in profitability in that span;

• an independent auditor to examine the data.

The disclosure of team's finances has been a point of contention since negotiations began, but the league has stalled until this point. Even with a deadline looming, the NFL is still dragging its feet.

After two extensions last week -- one last 24 hours and another giving the two sides seven days -- a lockout deadline is again looming with just two days of negotiations remaining. If an agreement isn't made about the disclosure of financial data, it's likely the two sides kill negotiations, beginning a lockout. Of course, working under the pressure of a deadline, it's possible another extension is agreed upon, allowing negotiations to continue, at least temporarily. But until the NFLPA gets the data it wants, these negotiations will stall over the biggest stumbling block: money.

Keep an eye on our NFL lockout StoryStream for updates on the negotiations as the deadline looms for the latest on the meetings.

NFL Lockout: Extension Temporarily As Owners, Players Work To Push Deadline Further

While a 24-hour extension to continue collective bargaining agreement negotiations isn't much time, it appears the NFL and NFLPA are working toward a more long-term extension, using the extra day to hammer out the deal. The two sides agreed on a stop-gap solution in the 11th hour on Thursday, just before the close of Judge David Doty's option. The extension allows the two sides to continue to negotiate without a work-stoppage as they try to form a consensus on the press issues in the new CBA.

According to a report, the 24-hour window is meant to allow the two sides to piece together firm details of a longer extension, perhaps lasting another week. The owners and NFLPA need to figure out if contracts could still be signed, how drug testing would work and whether the extension would simply continue the current CBA with no strings attached.

Before Thursday's extension, the CBA was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Ahead of that deadline, the NFLPA was expected to decertify, paving the way for an antitrust lawsuit. As a formality, the owners would have to vote to stop work, creating a lockout situation. Those moves are all on hold now, but could happen tomorrow if a longer extension is not agreed upon.

Consider Thursday's move a stay of execution. The federal mediator was pushing for negotiations to continue, and the owners, apparently, proposed an extension on Thursday morning. For once during the negotiations, the NFLPA held the power and could have killed the deal -- no matter the public backlash -- by rejecting the offer. They didn't, so talks will move forward on Friday.

Stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest as negotiations continue. For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

NFL Lockout: Deadline Extended As Owners, NFLPA Continue Negotiations, According To Report

After weeks of negotiations that sat at a standstill, the NFL and NFLPA finally came to some sort of consensus today as both sides agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement while negotiations continue. The idea for an extension was first floated on Thursday morning, just hours before the 11:59 p.m. deadline for a lockout. The deal does not mean the two sides are close to an agreement, but they will continue negotiating without a work stoppage.

The news was reported on the NFL Network on Thursday afternoon. The extension will reportedly last 24 hours as the two sides continue bargaining sessions.

Without an extension, it was likely the NFLPA would file for decertification before turning around and filing an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. The NFLPA was also reportedly mulling over filing an injunction to stop a lockout, at least temporarily. For now, none of that is necessary as both sides have a bit more time, hopefully breathing new life into the negotiations.

It's unclear if the two sides are close to a consensus as of now, but they don't have much time. The main sticking point has been revenue sharing, with the owners looking for a bigger piece of the pie and players trying to keep their edge and share of revenue. With billions of dollars at stake, it's about money above all else in the CBA negotiations.

The union did win an important legal battle earlier in the week, preventing owners from pocketing television revenue during a lockout after Judge David Doty overturned an earlier decision that would've allowed the NFL to earn some $4 billion during a lockout. It's possible that decision prevents the owners from digging in for a long lockout lasting well into the season.

Stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest as negotiations continue. For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

NFL Lockout: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees Will Reportedly Lead Antitrust Lawsuit

With an NFL lockout on the horizon, barring a last-second extension, the NFLPA will reportedly decertify in an effort to take the battle to the courts. The union is expected to file at least one lawsuit, and an injunction in an effort to prevent a work-stoppage, following any action taken by the owners. And what better way to make a splash in the courts than to have three of the NFL’s biggest stars — Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady — lead a potential antitrust suit?

According to a report by Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter, if the NFLPA decides to file an antitrust lawsuit, Brady, Brees and Manning will the the lead plaintiffs in the case.

SOURCE TO SI: If union decertifies & is locked out, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady & Drew Brees will be lead plantiffs in antitrust lawsuit v NFL

While a lawsuit is a few steps of where we’re at in the process, it’s coming up quickly if an agreement cannot be reached in the near future. The NFLPA must decertify ahead of the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement, either by the close of business on Thursday or before an extended deadline passes.

An antitrust lawsuit would be the biggest challenge to the NFL in the league’s history and could change the way it operates, if successful. Currently, the league operates in uncharted waters as nobody has seriously gone after it with antitrust litigation. If the NFLPA decertifies, that litigation is the logical next step, and has been expected since word the union may cease to exist came down.

For the latest on the negotiations, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Barack Obama Issues Statement, Hopes For Resolution

The NFL labor negotiations wouldn't be complete unless President Barack Obama weighed in. Obama did just that on Thursday morning, urging the two sides to get a deal done while appearing to insinuate he'd step in if a lockout takes place. In a quick statement, Obama noted the money involved, his own fandom and threw his weight around a bit as the owners and NFLPA battle it out at the bargaining table.

NFL Network's Albert Breer posted the full statement on Twitter.

"You have owners worth close to a billion, players making millions. The parties should be able to work it out. I'm a big football fan. For an industry making $9B I'd hope they can figure out how to divide it up in a sensible way. I hope they can come to an agreement without me having to intervene."

It's unclear whether Obama would actually step in and what power he'd have in the labor dispute. Obama does make a good point about the money at stake, making the negotiations, with more money most can dream of, seem like two sides dividing up a giant pile of money.

If a lengthy lockout does occur, it's more than possible congress, or the president, could step in and force the two sides back to the table. While they can't push an agreement through, the threat of an anti-trust lawsuit and the power of lawmakers could be a scare-tactic in negotiations. Then again, it could also be nothing at all.

For more on the negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Owners Present New Proposal, NFLPA Considers Extension

An earlier report indicating the owners had requested an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement was confirmed, but the NFLPA still wants confirmation that the request will lead to meaningful talks in an effort to get a deal done. The NFL and NFLPA are meeting with a mediator, as well, who is pushing for both sides to accept an extension and continue to work towards a new CBA while avoiding a work stoppage.

With the way the talks have been going, and the lack of a middle ground between the two sides, it's understandable for the NFLPA to be wary of an extension. After all, the owners have been preparing for, and threatening, a lockout for months, only now looking like they're serious about bargaining. However, the two sides are talking on Thursday ahead of the deadline, and an extension may be a possibility.

Extension of CBA deadline talks said to be "legit but fragile'' according to source in the room.

In addition to the extension, ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting the owners made a "significant proposal" on Thursday and the union is mulling it over. While Mortensen offers few deals about the proposal, the union is, apparently, looking into the core of the deal and considering an extension. In a bargaining process where the owners have been sitting on the power, seeing the union with the ball in their court on Thursday is an odd twist on the negotiations, as well.

While it may be a long-shot, there's still a chance for an extension, which is good news no matter the eventual outcome. If the NFL and NFLPA can begin to come together, we may avoid a lockout after all. There's still a long ways to go, and a lockout is the most likely outcome, but it's an intriguing development in the situation.

For the latest from the meetings, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Owners Request Deadline Extension, NFLPA Mulls Offer

With the deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement set to pass at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday night, the NFL has reportedly requested an extension in hopes of getting a deal done before a lockout takes place. The NFLPA, locked in mediation with the owners, is reportedly mulling the offer over, looking for guarantees that the two sides will make progress. If a deal cannot get done, the union is expected to decertify ahead of the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement, setting up a lengthy legal battle.

The report comes from Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter on Twitter, who outlined why the NFLPA is hesitant to agree to the deal.

Source: NFL's owners and players discussing extending deadline. no decision made yet. story upcoming on si.com. i'm told the owners requested the extension; union wants indications that it's a serious step toward a resolution.

The NFLPA wants to make sure this isn't a public relations move by the league, trying to paint the union as the bad guy if a deal doesn't get done or an extension isn't agreed to. From all indications, the two sides are still on different pages, nowhere close to an agreement. In that regard, if talks are still stalled, an extension is nothing more than symbolic.

The NFLPA and owners are still meeting at the bargaining table ahead of Thursday night's deadline. Stay tuned for the latest from the talks at our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: NFLPA Reportedly Plans To Decertify Thursday, Owners To Vote Friday

The NFLPA will reportedly move forward with plans to decertify, making it official on Thursday ahead of the deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement. The union must file for decertification ahead of the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Thursday, making tomorrow do-or-die for the players. In response, the owners owners will reportedly vote on a lockout on Friday after the collective bargaining agreement expires.

The news, in the form of rumors, comes from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Twitter.

Being whispered: NFLPA files for decertification after tomorrow's mediation. CEC votes next day to lockout or close down. Then lawyers play.

Again, none of this is official, but it jives with what's been reported in the last week or so. The NFLPA has been mulling the idea of decertification in an effort to take the battle to the courts in an attempt to block the lockout. At its disposal, the union, which wouldn't exist following decertification, has the ability to file an injunction to stop the lockout, as well as filing an anti-trust lawsuit in hopes of gaining leverage in the CBA negotiations.

On the NFL side, the owners still must vote to officially begin a work stoppage, though it's all but a formality at this point. The NFL has been threatening, and planning, a lockout in the event a new CBA is not in place by Thursday's deadline.

The two sides are still at the bargaining table and will return for a final session on Thursday. If it fails, and it appears the NFL and union are far apart, the chain of events -- including decertification and a lockout -- will move forward quickly.

For the latest, stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream. To connect with Seahawks fans, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

NFLPA Still Considering Decertification Ahead Of NFL Lockout Deadline

The NFL and NFLPA met again on Wednesday as the two sides work to find a middle ground while negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. Though both sides seem optimistic, and the tone was generally positive after Wednesday’s meeting, it’s clear the league and union are still far apart with Thursday’s deadline looming. If a new agreement cannot be reached, the owners have threatened to force a work stoppage, locking the players out.

The NFLPA has threatened to decertify and take the battle to the court, ceasing to be a union, but over at SB Nation, Joel Thorman points out the scenario could be high-risk and high-reward. It’s a move that may be a bluff, and the NFLPA is running out of time if it does plan to decertify.

Brandt also writes that, though the NFLPA has done the necessary homework on decertification, he doesn’t think they’ve ever wanted to use it. Because of language in the current CBA, the union would have to do this before the expiration of the labor agreement — in other words, tomorrow.

If it’s going to happen, the NFLPA will have to make the move before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, coinciding with the expiration of the current CBA. Decertifying would allow the NFLPA to file an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, but is also a risky scenario as turmoil hits a boiling point with the player ranks if a lockout continues for an extended period of time.

It appears the NFL is calling the union’s bluff, maintaining a lockout will still occur whether the NFLPA decertifies or not. The ball is squarely in the players’ court now, and they have just about 36 hours to figure out what to do with it.

Adding to the intrigue is Tuesday’s ruling denying the NFL television revenue from its existing contracts in the event of a lockout. Previously, the NFLPA tried to block the NFL receiving money, but was unsuccessful, making it easier for the owners to absorb the financial burden of an extended period without football. Now, after David Doty reversed the ruling, the NFL would be missing a significant stream of revenue, perhaps leveling the playing field for the union.

With just over a day to go until the current CBA expires, stay tuned to our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest. To check in with Seahawks fans, check out SB Nation’s FIeld Gulls.

NFL Lockout: David Doty's Ruling Prevents Owners From Pocketing TV Money In Big Win For NFLPA

Just about a month ago, the NFL won a ruling allowing the owners to continue pocketing TV revenue — to the tune of about $4 billion — even if a lockout were to take place and stretch into the season. The ruling would have allowed the league to stay afloat and hold strong for an extended period of time without having to worry about a significant drop in revenue. The NFLPA tried to block the owners from collecting the money, but failed at the time.

On Tuesday, that all changed after David Doty reversed the original ruling, preventing the owners from collecting that $4 billion. Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter reported the news on Twitter, breaking down what it means for both sides.

BREAKING NEWS: Doty reverses special master Burbank. “Holds that the NFL breached the SSA as to those (TV) contracts.” CLARIFICATION: doty will have a hearing with the nfl and nflpa at an undetermined date to decide two things 1) what the damages are, or 2) if the money will be put in escrow. but as of today the league does not have access to it.

As Trotter says, the ruling levels the playing field for the NFLPA and gives the union significant leverage in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Previously, the league was able to proceed as planned, waiting as long as it took in hopes of breaking the union with an extended lockout. But without that TV revenue, the owners’ position is severely weakened, giving the NFLPA a leg-up at the bargaining table.

The owners can, and likely will, still appeal the ruling, keeping the fight in the courts. For now, though, the NFLPA scored a big win just ahead of Thursday’s deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement. The two sides have reportedly resumed negotiations, working towards a last-second agreement. Even with talks open, it appears we’re still headed for a lockout this week, but it’s yet unclear how long it may last.

For the latest on the negotiations, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: League Reportedly Plans Work Stoppage If NFLPA Decertifies, Setting Up Antitrust Fight

The NFL is still reportedly moving forward with plans for a lockout, even if the NFL Players Association decertifies ahead of the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. On Saturday, reports surfaced indicating the union planned to disband in an effort to block the lockout, taking the fight to the courts instead of the bargaining table. Moving ahead with a lockout would put the NFL in uncharted territory, however, as the league wouldn’t be able to lock anything out without a players’ union.

It’s complicated, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio explains the NFL would, essentially, be going out of business during the work stoppage instead of declaring a lockout. Doing so has could, potentially, be an antitrust violation, strengthening the position of the NFLPA.

If the union decertifies, it is not really correct to call it a ‘lockout,’" Gary Roberts, a former outside counsel for the league told SportsBusiness Journal. "As soon as you don’t have a union, it’s an employer ceasing operations."

Some think that shutting the doors to a non-union work force would amount to an antitrust violation.

By decertifying, the union could take its fight to the courts, filing an injunction to stop the lockout and filing an antitrust lawsuit against the league. The NFL could counter, fighting the decertification through the National Labor Relations Board. The league already took the first step, filing a motion accusing the NFLPA of failing to bargain in good faith.

It all amounts to a messy legal situation as both sides jockey for position ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The current CBA expires at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday and the NFL is expected to force a work stoppage, locking the players out. Doing so would put the brakes on the offseason, preventing teams from signing free agents or filing out their rosters as they would in a normal year.

For the latest on a potential work stoppage and more information about what it means, check out the rest of our NFL lockout StoryStream. To connect with Seahawks fans and commiserate about the impending lockout, check out SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

NFL Lockout: NFLPA Has Support Of Drew Rosenhaus, Agents

In the day's least surprising news, agents representing many of the top NFL stars have thrown their support behind the NFLPA as the league and union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Drew Rosenhaus, one of the power agents in the NFL world, threw his weight behind the NFLPA on Saturday, and was joined by power agents Joel Segal, Tom Condon and Ben Dogra. With the CBA set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, the NFLPA and the agents are working to prepare players for what appears to be an inevitable lockout.

In a show of solidarity, Rosenhaus and others met with the media on Saturday and voiced support for the cause while saying their players were ready for a lockout, and have been for two years (via Philly.com).

In a rare show of unified purpose, four of the league's most powerful agents told reporters that they are behind the NFLPA and that players are ready for an extended lockout, even one that lasts the entire season.

"As soon as De Smith got this job, the NFLPA sent out a lot of communication, back in 2009, to be prepared for this moment, so we're ready," said agent Drew Rosenhaus, referring to the union's executive director, DeMaurice Smith.

Rosenhaus already spoke out while addressing a potential lockout earlier in the month, saying the NFL needs a full offseason to thrive as a league. Should a lockout come to pass -- and there's no reason to believe it won't at this point -- free agents won't be able to sign contracts as the league grinds to a halt until a new CBA is agreed upon. For agents such as Rosenhaus, that means their players could be stuck in no-man's land indefinitely.

The NFLPA will reportedly decertify ahead of the Thursday deadline as a preemptive move. The union would then take the fight to the courts, filing an injunction against the owners to stop a lockout and slapping the league with an anti-trust lawsuit for good measure. From all indications, this coming week could get messy quick.

For more on the negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFLPA Plans To Decertify Before NFL Lockout, According To Report

The NFL Players Association will reportedly decertify ahead of a potential NFL lockout in a move that’s been expected since the collective bargaining agreement talks began to stall. The current CBA expires just before midnight on March 3, at which point the NFL owners are expected to lock the players out as offseason work stops. Ahead of that, however, in a move meant to improve its position, the NFLPA will cease to be a union, choosing instead to decertify.

The report, filed by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, says the players have the unanimous support necessary to decertify, and the union will do so before a lockout begins. By ceasing to be a union, the NFLPA can take its fight to the courts, filing an injunction in an effort to prevent a work stoppage.

The primary reason for decertification would be to file for an injunction that, if granted, would prevent the owners from locking out the players. NFLPA officials and players believe that this could be the only hope to have a full NFL season next year. Furthermore, decertifying as a union prior to the expiration of the CBA would allow NFL players to seek injunctive relief and commence anti-trust action against owners in front of U.S. District Court Judge David Doty, who has had jurisdiction over the current labor agreement since 1993.

The second part of the equation, an antitrust lawsuit, is key. The NFL has yet to face a serious anti-trust challenge, a big reason why the league can operate the way it does. If the players are successful in their anti-trust lawsuit, it’s possible the owners will either crack under the pressure or that the league will change in a big way. At this point, with the owners holding all the power and threatening a lockout, a legal battle, not mediation, is likely the only way the players can succeed.

With Thursday’s deadline looming and no progress being made in mediation talks, it looks like were headed for a messy legal battle and lengthy lockout, with the real possibility of a season without football hanging in the balance. Stay with our NFL lockout StoryStream for the latest as the NFL and NFLPA battle it out over a new CBA.

NFL Lockout: Roger Goodell Wants CBA Negotiations To Accelerate

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, unhappy with the pace of the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, released a statement on Tuesday, urging the league and players association to accelerate talks ahead of March 4, the day the current CBA expires. Neither the NFLPA or league have made any headway in preliminary talks, as both sides have come away from the bargaining table unhappy. The major sticking point has been the distribution of revenue, with the NFLPA wanting to keep its edge and the owners looking for a bigger cut.

However, his words urging for talks to get into gear were hollow in many ways. Goodell used the opportunity to, more or less, beg for money, noting the owners needed an increase in revenue to offset costs associated with running teams and keeping the league moving forward.

Goodell says owners need more money to offset “costs of financing, building, maintaining and operating stadiums.” He adds: “We need new stadiums in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego.”

With stadium costs rising, as evidenced by the billion dollar albatross that is Cowboys Stadium, it’s tough to take Goodell serious in this instance. After all, it’s the owners storming away from the bargaining table and filing unfair labor charges against the NFLPA. It’s been the owners cancelling meetings more than once in the last week, taking to the media to blast the players’ union.

With a little over two weeks left until the current CBA expires, the NFL and NFLPA face an uphill battle to get a deal done. Without a new CBA, the owners have vowed to lock the players out. It’s a battle that could drag on well into the 2011 season, with the very real possibility of no football in 2011 looming.

We’ll keep you posted on the negotiations as more becomes available in our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Owners File Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against NFLPA

The owners, under the impression the NFL Players Association is not bargaining in good faith, have filed an unfair labor practice change against the union. The charge, filed wit the National Labor Relations Board alleges the union is waiting for the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to expire in March, and refusing to negotiate until then. In short, a refusal to bargain is unlawful, and the owners are trying to go the litigation route first.

Does it pass the smell test, though? The reason for letting the CBA expire is simple: The NFLPA can de-certify and file a lawsuit to take this to the courts. It’s the lawsuit, and anti-trust allegation, that has the NFL owners worried. Should the union garner unanimous support for decertification, which the NFLPA has been vocally and publicly lobbying its players for, that lawsuit is the only step.

Could the NFLPA be refusing to bargaining? It’s possible, but not likely at all. The owners are holding the threat of a lockout over their head and the NFLPA appears to be trying to get this done at the bargaining table first, working to avoid litigation. If the two sides could come to an agreement, it avoids messy litigation and an antitrust suit that could see both sides come out losers in the end, with the NFL as a whole taking the biggest hit.

Instead, we’re looking at another PR war waged in the media. The owners are alleging a lack of cooperation, when it looks like the league itself is the one stomping its feet and refusing to work with the players. The owners are the ones that have walked out of meetings and cancelled future sessions while threatening a lockout. The labor charges seems not only misguided, but like a poor media tactic.

For more on the negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Owners Walk Out Of Bargaining Meeting, NFLPA Responds

Monday’s meeting to discuss collective bargaining agreement negotiations went about as expected between the NFL and NFLPA. When all was said and done, the owners walked out of the meeting, frustrated with a lack of progress. Just last week, the owners cancelled upcoming negotiations, apparently miffed by a misunderstanding about the NFLPA’s proposed revenue sharing arrangement. With just about two weeks to go until the old CBA expires, the odds of an agreement are looking slim, to say the least.

The NFLPA responded with a statement after Monday’s walkout, ripping the owners for their continued unwillingness to work out an agreement with a lockout hanging in the balance (via Curtis Crabtree).

“The players didn’t walk out, and the players can’t lockout. Players want a fair, new and long-term deal. We have offered proposals and solutions on every issue the owners have raised. This claim has absolutely no merit.”

The owners are clearly driving the bus here, with the NFLPA’s only recourse coming in the form of decertification. That move would require unanimous support from all 32 teams, and allow the union to sue the league and take the fight to the courts. Until then, however, the owners hold the trump card, using the ability to close up shop and leave the players out in the cold as their biggest bargaining chip. With the owners holding the clear power in negotiations, the players next move appears to be litigation.

It’s a messy situation with negotiations bordering on out of control and contentious, with the owners gaining little in the way of sympathy or good public relations from this all. The real losers in this are the fans, who could be stuck on the outside with no football to speak of in 2011.

For more on the meetings, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Drew Rosenhaus Address CBA Negotiations, Value Of The Offseason

For outside observers, it may seem the NFL offseason is all fluff no substance. It's about gaudy contracts, free agents looking to be wooed and training exercises that are more of a grind than anything else. Why, then, would a potential NFL lockout have much of an affect if it ends before the 2011 season begins? After all, as long as no games are missed, the product will be just fine.

The focus today has been on the meaning of the NFL offseason, free agent signings, trades and training camps. Agents and players alike are championing the process of the offseason, and the impact it has on the game itself. Drew Rosenhaus, one of the power-agents at the NFL-level, took to Twitter to briefly explain how having a partial offseason, or no offseason at all, could prove problematic for the 2011 season.

March 4th is a key deadline for the CBA - no deal means no signings, trades, workouts, injury rehab, etc Next season would be hurt by this. We need a complete, functioning offseason in order to have a successful season in 2011 - can't just show up for the 1st game

In many way's he's right. A lockout stops the NFL dead in its tracks, with players barred from using the facilities and teams barred from working out contracts, filling out rosters and interacting with the players. In the event of a prolonged lockout, players would miss mini-camps, training camps and would be unable to participate in those preseason practices that can be so vital to a team.

Without the ability to sign or trade, teams are left working with what they have, while having to scramble whenever the potential lockout ends. At present, everyone is in limbo, with free agents facing uncertain futures and teams having only partially formed rosters.

So while the main concern is the games, a lockout that drags on through the offseason presents its own set of unique problems that could have an affect on the season. The whole situation is messy, and the collective bargaining agreement negotiations could have a ripple-effect that last long after an agreement is reached, whenever that may be.

For more on the CBA negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Owners' Meeting Cancelled, NFL Holds The Leverage

The collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NFL and NFL Players Association are at a complete standstill, all over a misinterpretation this week. The confusion, reported on Wednesday, stemmed from the distribution of revenue, with the NFLPA proposing a 51-49 split of “all revenue,” not “total revenue” as before. The owners read that as total revenue, the system that’s already in place which gives the owners a $1 billion credit before splitting the revenue between the two sides. With the meetings off to a bad start, the decision was made to kill the negotiations for the foreseeable future.

At this point, a lockout is all but certain, though the length of any potential lockout is unknown. The owners have threatened to lock the players out when the current CBA expires on March 4, and appear to be preparing for a lengthy stalemate.

It may seem an offseason lockout isn’t a big deal and that fans will only hit a breaking point should it have an affect on games this fall. However, it is a big deal, and will throw offseason moves into a holding pattern, leaving free agents unable to sign and teams unable to conduct the typical offseason workouts, training camps and other activities. The longer this goes on, the harder it becomes to both assemble a team and get that team ready to play.

What we have is a giant game of chicken with billions of dollars hanging in the balance. The NFL is relying on the players to blink first at the thought of not getting paid or being able to sign contracts. The union is relying on the NFL to realize sponsorships, ticket sales and other revenue streams won’t come rolling in should there be a lockout and cancellation of the season, forcing them to come crawling back.

It’s going to take one side blinking for an agreement, and neither side looks to be close to that point. Instead, both sides are waging a campaign in the media, with the NFLPA using social media and large-scale advertisements urging the NFL to let them play and the commissioner symbolically reducing his salary while doing his talking in a public way. The thought is that the court of public opinion will rule here and whichever side can convince the masses they’re right will hold negotiating leverage. The problem, though, is that neither side can seem to gain any ground.

Pro Football Talk has a primer about what this all means and how each scenario can play out. While a lockout is likely, it’s not yet a sure-thing, and anything can happen in the next month. However, it’s not looking good right now, and we should all be prepared for life without football for an extended period of time.

For more on the negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: Rookie Wage Scale On The Table; Draft Picks Set To Lose Money

According to a report, the NFL Players Association has already made at least one concession in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations — and it had to do with the rookie pay scale. It’s not unexpected — and was a reason many were telling underclassmen to jump to the NFL last year — but the concessions don’t bode well for draft picks both now and in the future.

MAC Football Blog’s Brian McIntyre broke it all down, explaining what the concessions were and what they mean.

The union included a cap on incentives, with the savings from rookie contacts passed along to veterans.

The owner’s proposal, which Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy shed some light on the Washington Post in December, would require first-round picks to sign five-year contracts, with quarterbacks signing six-year agreements, and players in rounds 2-7 signing four-year deals.

Either way, the pay is decreasing here. McIntyre used C.J. Spiller as an example, citing the contract he signed following the 2010 NFL Draft. Spiller signed for four years at $24.3 million, $20 million of which is guaranteed. Under the union’s proposal, that contract would be four years for $18 million while the owner’s proposal puts it at five years, $8.6 million. Quite the difference.

For a player like Jake Locker, for instance, this is bad news. Not only was Locker seen as a high pick in the 2010 draft before sliding ahead of the 2011 draft, but he also stands to lose a significant amount of money whenever a new CBA is put in place.

For more on the negotiations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: CBA Talks About Revenue Sharing Above All Else

The NFL and NFL Players Association have called the whole thing off, deciding not to bother with any more meetings this week or in the near future. Roger Goodell floated the idea that it was about drug tests, highlighting that over the large variety of other issues facing both sides in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations. It was, of course, patently false.

It’s about the money, stupid, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Chris Mortensen, speaking on SportsCenter this morning, confirmed my own suspicions, saying the two sides couldn’t come together on a revenue sharing proposal. The players want 50 percent of everything, split across the board, which the owners are, obviously, completely against. It’s confusing, but here’s the explanation of it all.

At the current revenue levels, “total revenue” has been defined as an estimated $9 billion gross, minus a $1 billion credit in the owners’ favor. In the current CBA deal about to expire, the union’s share has been estimated at about 60 percent of $8 billion, once the $1 billion credit was subtracted.

Make sense? The owners want another $1 billion in credit — totaling $2 billion — chopped off the top before the “total revenue” is split up. The players want a 50-50 split of total revenue, without the credit ever taken off the top.

And this is where the problem lies. The owners want that bigger cut, mostly as a symbolic message, while the players want to keep their edge in revenue. If the players budge, they’ll never see that cut of money again. It sets up for a stalemate that looks lengthy, to say the least.

With no end in sight, a lockout and canceled games are a very real possibility. Neither side wants to budge, the owners are prepared for a lockout and the players are powerless to do anything about it. With so much money at stake, neither side is prepared to move, as well, compounding all the problems.

For more on the CBA negotations, check out our NFL lockout StoryStream.

NFL Lockout: CBA Talks Break Down, Thursday Meeting Cancelled

With the Super Bowl over, the attention turns to the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which have been contentious between the NFL and NFL Players' Association, to say the least. The two sides have until March 4, the date the current CBA expires, to come together and hammer out a new agreement. If they don't, the owners will lock the players out, making a year without football a real possibility.

The two sides have been at the bargaining table this week, but negotiations are going nowhere in a hurry. CBS Sports' Facts and Rumors blog passed along an update, confirming Thursday's session is cancelled, while laying out a few sticking points.

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday" that aired the morning of Super Bowl XLV, Goodell called drug testing a key issue in labor talks. ...

Outlining major sticking points, Goodell talked about revenue division, rookie salaries and benefits for retired players.

Wait ... drug testing? There's absolutely no way I buy this. Yes, drug testing is a big issue, but this is about money. It's about revenue; it's about an 18-game schedule; it's about a rookie pay scale. Waving drug testing out there as the main issue is a red herring.

Simply put, the owners are trying to maximize their return on investment. The players are trying to avoid a lockout while also looking out for their own futures -- both physically and financially. An 18-game schedule -- more money for the owners -- exacts a physical toll on the players, no matter how much fans long for more meaningful football.

Pension plans and retirement benefits, also highly-publicized issues, have long been a problem in the NFL, as well, with players receiving benefits that are downright embarrassing at times. An NFL career can have a severe impact on the rest of a player's life, making the benefits for post-retirement an issue of high importance for the players' union.

This has the potential to get ugly quick, with a lockout likely becoming a reality in a month. Brace yourselves, NFL fans, we could be in for a bumpy ride.

Keep an eye on our StoryStream for the latest on the CBA negotiations and a potential lockout as more becomes available.