NFLPA files to decertify; League says union wasn't committed to negotiating

The NFLPA is taking it to the courts as the NFL declined to open up their books for the last 10 years and show financial documents that the NFLPA was seeking to agree to another extension or new CBA agreement.

The NFLPA has officially decertified and has announced their new status as a professional trade association.

"The NFL Players Association announced today it has informed the NFL, NFL clubs and other necessary parties that it has renounced its status as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of the players of the National Football League.

"The NFLPA will move forward as a professional trade association with the mission of supporting the interests and rights of current and former professional football players."

The battle for a new CBA agreement between the NFL and NFLPA will now go to Judge David Doty's court who is seen to favor the players.

As expected, this fight between the NFL and players will likely go well into the summer. With games not until September, expect this to drag out until at least late July and likely into August.

The NFLPA says that significant differences remain between the two sides, while the NFL says that the players left a very good deal on the table.

The NFL in their final comments said that the Union was not committed to negotiating and were committed to litigation. The players believe that the Courts will rule that the owners can't lockout the players.

The NFL through spokseman Jeff Pash said that the league has not made a decision on whether to lockout the players. They have until 11:59 p.m. tonight.

Statement from the NFL:

The fastest way to a fair agreement is for both the union and the clubs to continue the mediation process. Unfortunately, the players’ union has notified our office that at 4pm ET it had “decertified” and is walking away from mediation and collective bargaining, presumably to initiate the antitrust litigation it has been threatening to file. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, the clubs offered a deal that would have had no adverse financial impact upon veteran players in the early years and would meet the players’ financial demands in the latter years.

The union left a very good deal on the table. It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

The union was offered financial disclosure of audited league and club profitability information that is not even shared with the NFL clubs.

The expanded health and safety rules would include a reduction in offseason programs of five weeks (from 14 to nine) and of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from 14 to 10; significant reductions in the amount of contact in practices; and other changes.

At a time when thousands of employees are fighting for their collective bargaining rights, this union has chosen to abandon collective bargaining in favor of a sham ‘decertification’ and antitrust litigation. This litigation maneuver is built on the indisputably false premise that the NFLPA has stopped being a union and will merely delay the process of reaching an agreement.

The NFL clubs remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached. The NFL calls on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.