NFL Wars

With the NFL at the peak of its popularity, the current NFL lockout is quickly becoming one of the most famous sports law and labor related issues. Collective Bargaining Agreements, more commonly known as a CBA, are what govern the relationship between athletes and the sport they play. Just as employees of another job may have a union, NFL players have the NFL Players Association, also known as the NFLPA or Player’s Union. The NFLPA acts as the representing body for the players in negotiations with the League, which consists of all team owners and the NFL Commissioner. The CBA is the agreement between the two parties on topics of wages and structure, such as games and practices.
Just like any contract, the CBA between the Player’s Union and the League has a set duration. The current agreement was set to last through the 2011-12 season, but the owners decided to opt out of the final year per an opt out clause in the agreement. With no new agreement in place, the NFL and its players are on the verge of not having a 2011 football season, also known as a lockout. For the NFL to go on, the two sides must come to an agreement on such issues as how much revenue goes to player salaries, which is currently around 50% (“NFLPA Lockout,” 2011). The main issues include revenue and salaries, a potential 18-game season (currently 16), a rookie wage scale, and pensions for former players (“NFLPA Files,” 2011).
Still nowhere close to a deal, the NFLPA has decertified and NFL players are preparing to sue to the NFL for antitrust violations. The player’s are hoping a federal ruling could force a 2011 season, but even if so what would happen after that time? What about a CBA past 2012?
The players seem to be most frustrated with the NFL for wanting to change anything when the sports seems to be doing so well; “The players haven’t asked for anything more and literally don’t want anything more. They have asked simply to play under the existing agreement,” said NFLPA Spokesmen Gorge Atallah (2011). One thing is for sure, this topic is only getting hotter as star NFL players are about to sue their bosses!

Resources

Atallah, George. (2011). Players Case For Football in 2011. ESPN. Retrieved from sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=5995362

“NFLPA Files Collusion Claim.” (2011, January 18). Associated Press. Retrieved from sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6033492

“NFLPA Lockout Central.” (2011). NFL Players Association. Retrieved from www.nflplayers.com/about-us/2011-Lockout-Central/