We are well on our way to a work stoppage for the National Football League.
At 5pm on Friday afternoon the NFL players’ association announced that they have decertified as a union in Federal court in Minneapolis. This means that the union has dissolved, thus making the players independently hired and therefore each player could individually sue the league under anti-trust laws. Under labor law, a union cannot sue an employer.
Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning, New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady and offensive lineman Logan Mankins, as well as New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees will be lead plantiffs in the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.
Manning & Brady // mywnde.com
The NFLPA had until 5pm on Friday to announce the decertification of their union. If they had not decertified, they would not have been able to until six months after the current CBA expires.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said that the union requested audited financial statements from all 32 teams for the last 10 years in order for an extension of negotiations to occur. When the league decline to provide that information, the union decertified.
With both sides negotiating throughout the day, there was hope that a potential agreement would come about. However with the NFLPA announcing their decertification, a new deal anytime soon seems highly unlikely.
It is a dark day for football fans.
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