**BREAKING NEWS *** NFL Union files to decertify; deadline passes

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6205936

The NFL Players Association has filed papers to decertify, effectively disbanding the union and giving it the chance to sue under antitrust laws if there is a lockout.
"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 group said Friday in a statement.
The move follows a 16th day of federally mediated negotiations in which the union, presented with a proposal from the league's owners group late Friday afternoon as a 5 p.m. decertification deadline approached, rejected the offer as "significant differences continue to remain," union chief DeMaurice Smith said.

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"They have chosen to choose another strategy, and that is their choice," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Without decertification, the union would've had to wait six months to file a suit after the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
Shortly after the announcement, the union's website, NFLPA.org, had been taken down.
"Error 404: Football Not Found" was published in large letters near the top of the site's homepage. A smaller line below read: "Please be patient as we work on resolving this. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
A link to www.nfllockout.com was included above a graphic-art sketch of what appeared to be a website blueprint. At the bottom, another link directed licensees to a password-restricted

I may be in the minority but I'm on the owners' sides here.

I don't care how much the owners make, or how much MORE they make than the players.

The players still make a fortune.

And the most important thing to remember is this......

Owners are the EMPLOYER........ Players are the EMPLOYEES

What is the reason every other person in this world starts and/or owns their own business?
To make money.

That's why they are the EMPLOYERS.... And their workers are the EMPLOYEES

What would happen if any of us who work a regular job would go to their boss who owns the actual business, and demand that we want part of his profits?

We all know that answer....

NFL has a goldmine, but if they start f-ing around, they might suffer like baseball did....it took years for them to recover to near normal and still not sure they are 100% there....if they strike, it could sure hurt the game....remember the disaster of the shortened season in the early 80's and the replacement players.....

I can see both arguments here though Hache - what would you do if you came into work one day and your boss told you that everyone will be getting a pay cut of 12.5% ? I am pretty sure that I would kick up a fuss as well.

On the other hand, the owners are the employers so they should have the option to do that if they so wanted...then its up the the players to either accept the pay cut or to tell the boss to shove it and go find a job elsewhere (CFL!)

Is a very tricky situation though, and sadly I cant see it being fixed anytime soon as both parties too far apart...