NFL players' union decertifies, moving labor battle to court

WASHINGTON - The NFL, the most popular sports league in America, was plunged into uncertainty Friday when its owners and players failed to reach a new collective-bargaining agreement.

The breakdown in negotiations and ensuing legal action, initiated by the players' union, puts the game and its immediate future into the hands of lawyers and judges and marked an escalation of a long-brewing business dispute between owners and players.

At issue was how to split $9 billion of annual revenue, the length of the season, a wage scale for first-year players, new health and safety rules, and health care for retired players.

According to NFL Network sources, the owners filed a lockout Friday night, essentially halting all league business except for the coming draft. Under the lockout, which the players will try to block by seeking a court injunction, player movement is frozen, and players can't work out with their teams.

A lockout could imperil the 2011 regular season and lead to the first work stoppage that cancels NFL games since 1987.

But the players have already filed for an injunction to block a work stoppage, and their attorneys expect that hearing to be resolved within weeks, potentially leading to the next stage of a protracted legal battle.

The owners also had the option Friday of unilaterally imposing work rules, which would allow league business to proceed, but their rules would be immediately challenged in court.

Both sides apologized to fans and blamed one another for the breakdown in negotiations. Each said it made attractive offers, but talks stalled over how to divide the largest revenue pool in any American sport.

The players said they did not receive enough financial data to justify giving money back at a time when all public indicators show the NFL to be enormously successful.

"The way two businesses should interact with each other is one based on trust - and a trust that is verified," said DeMaurice Smith, NFL Players Association executive director. "For the last 14 days, the National Football League has said, 'Trust us.' But when it came time to the verification, they told us it was none of our business."

But owners said they significantly decreased the amount they were asking for - to as little as $320 million a year, according to Eagles president Joe Banner - offered to increase benefits, and keep the season at 16 games for the next two years, only to be rejected.

"The union's position on the core economic issues has not changed one iota. Their position has quite literally been, 'Take it or leave it,' " said Giants owner John Mara, a member of the league's negotiating committee. "One thing that became painfully apparent to me during this period was that their objective was to go the litigation route."

As of 4 p.m. Friday the union renounced its status as the bargaining unit for players, opening the door to an antitrust lawsuit that was quickly filed in federal court, along with a request to block a lockout.

Ten players, including marquee stars Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady were named as plaintiffs. The players hope to have the case heard by Judge David Doty, who has usually ruled in favor of the union in NFL-NFLPA disputes.

Doty could block the lockout and force the league to move ahead with free agency and games, even as an antitrust case would challenging NFL rules would wind through the courts, said NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler.

"Any attempt to lock out is an attempt, a collusion, a boycott to prevent free agency from going forward," said union attorney Jim Quinn.

The league, however, is likely to challenge the union's decertification and attempt to stop any antitrust claims.

Despite the lawsuits, both sides can continue to negotiate. Talks would be done through the players who filed the suit, though they will be advised by the NFLPA's lawyers.

For now, each side is likely to take their chances in court.