Decertification

[Evil Hurney]

Either the "unions" site is down. Or they took it down to make it appear as if they actually dissolved. http://www.nflplayers.com/

[blackcatgrowl]

I still don't understand, what is going to happen now? what plans can be made for the NFL to exist next season?

Everything indicates that the owners will lockout the players. There is an high degree of chance there will not be a 2011 NFL season.

[riddel]

I don't know of a court ruling anywhere, including the Supreme Court that would order a privately owned company to show their books to anyone. There may be some legal machinations that indirectly deal with the owners refusing to bargain openly because they didn't open their books, but to specifically order a privately owned company to make public their financial dealings is a precedent no judge in their right mind would set.

I didn't want to do this...but I'm gonna break out the law books on ya now....

Cost of Labor Contracts Section clearly states under item

2. Increased financial disclosure. The employer will have to make a claim of inability to pay or financial hardship. although the company's financial information normally need not be disclosed in collective bargaining, when the employer puts profitability or financial condition in contention, the financial data MUST BE provided to substantiate the position.

[Evil Hurney]

I still don't understand, what is going to happen now? what plans can be made for the NFL to exist next season?

Right now all thats happened is that there is no longer a Players Union. Come midnight there will no longer be a CBA (there's not really one now since the union it was made with no longer exists).

After that the NFL is a business with no employees (well the ones that play football) and the players are unemployed.

[riddel]

Really, even though they filed in Minnesota?

Really. Once the CBA expired, decertification was not an option until 6 months had passed.

[rmoneyg35]

Right now all thats happened is that there is no longer a Players Union. Come midnight there will no longer be a CBA (there's not really one now since the union it was made with no longer exists).

After that the NFL is a business with no workers under contract and the players are unemployed.

since there is no longer a union couldnt the NFL owners take advantage and sign the players they want, like say a company hires workers for there busines, couldn't the NFL do the same with the rules they want?

[mav1234]

Really. Once the CBA expired, decertification was not an option until 6 months had passed.

Wasn't the CBA extended to midnight today? They COULD have done it again. The union decided against that option.

[Evil Hurney]

since there is no longer a union couldnt the NFL owners take advantage and sign the players they want, like say a company hires workers for there busines, couldn't the NFL do the same with the rules they want?

That is my interpretation. Now, doing this (as its been mentioned) will cause a much larger disparity in player contracts. I would think the league would want to set up some kind of "owners" agreement to keep the game competitive.

The players could band together and not sign any new contracts (in essence a strike). However, that would be dumb because there are thousands of semi-pro and UFL players who would take their spots in a heartbeat for far less pay.

[Jangler]

(insert profanity here) :(

Calm down man!

[Yaboychris28]

too bad Gene Upsgaw died. he would have got sh#t done. That D. smith guy is a joke

[Marguide]

since there is no longer a union couldnt the NFL owners take advantage and sign the players they want, like say a company hires workers for there busines, couldn't the NFL do the same with the rules they want?

Yes, but here's the problem. Owners may not be able to, as a group, have internal rules regarding contracts, drafts, camp schedules, etc without potentially violating anti-trust laws.

So unless it is just open season with unlimited free agency, spending, etc. they run the risk of paying court damages in the future.

[Proudiddy]

I don't care anymore, because if there is no football in 2011, they're f*cking themselves. And while many of us will always be diehard fans, they will no doubt hurt themselves and lose a great deal of the casual fans. Really idiotic move.

[Jangler]

Do they want NFL clubs to not make a profit?

Yes, that is the attitude that has taken over America.

[rmoneyg35]

Yes, but here's the problem. Owners may not be able to, as a group, have internal rules regarding contracts, drafts, camp schedules, etc without potentially violating anti-trust laws.

So unless it is just open season with unlimited free agency, spending, etc. they run the risk of paying court damages in the future.

What are anti trust laws regarding the NFL? I think the Owners wouldn't have any problems agreeing with each other, its the players that are the problem.