The NFL can no longer say its has the longest streak of labor peace among major American professional sports. For the first time in 24 yea...
For the first time in 24 years, the league is experiencing a work stoppage.
In response to the NFL Players Association's decertification and its refusal to accept a compromise in negotiations, the owners have locked out the players, according to a report by the league-owned NFL Network andseveral other outlets.
There has yet to be a statement on the issue from the league.
The move by the owners threatens to compromise offseason workout bonuses, as well as roster bonuses that were to be paid during the first few weeks of the league year. It also prevents the start of free agency and keeps players away from team facilities.
The players are working to end the lockout quickly.
On Friday, they filed an antitrust suit against the NFL to request an injunction to stop the lockout. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora is one of the lead plaintiffs in the suit, joining the Patriots' Tom Brady, the Colts' Peyton Manning, the Saints' Drew Brees, the Chargers' Vincent Jackson, the Vikings' Ben Leber, the Patriots' Logan Mankins, the Vikings' Brian Robison, the Chiefs' Mike Vrabel and Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.
The owners are contending the union's decertification is a "sham" to build leverage by preventing a lockout. Last month, they filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board stating the plan to decertify was “a ploy and an unlawful subversion of the collective bargaining process, there being no evidence whatsoever of any (let alone widespread) dissatisfaction with the union by its members.”
Federal judge David Doty, who has already ruled in favor of the players by saying the NFL failed to negotiate in good faith by securing payments from the TV networks during a lockout, could very well side with them once again to lift the lockout as soon as next week. If so, the league would have to implement rules for this upcoming season — rules that could backfire in an antitrust suit. Still, in that scenario there would be football while the battle in the courtroom takes place.
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