NFL Lockout: Timeline Of Events After Owner Ratification Of Labor Proposal

After the conference call concluded with no vote, NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen sent out the following email after voicing his displeasure with the whole situation.

"In addition to depriving the players of the time needed to consider forming a union and making needed changes to the old agreement, this proposed procedure would in my view also violate federal labor laws. Those laws prohibit employers from coercing their employees into forming a union, and could result in any agreement reached though the procedure declare null and void. Demands that the players re-form as a union and provide evidence by Tuesday, July 26 that a majority of players have signed union authorization cards virtually all provisions of the old CBA would become final on Saturday, July 30th. If the NFl does not agree to the players’ proposed changes, the old terms on benefits, discipline, safety, etc. will remain unchanged for another 10 years."

Things calmed down at that point over night, but it was apparent the players refused to recognize the owners timeline and would not be rushed into any sort of decision regarding the labor agreement.

This morning NFLPA president Kevin Mawae made an official statement to the media in an effort to forward the players stance on the current negotiations.

"Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification. There will not be any further NFLPA statements today out of respect for the Kraft family while they mourn the loss of Myra Kraft."

No further news of note has been given thus far. However the NFL reversed it’s stance in declaring that team facilities wold not open Saturday. Regardless of the owners ratification of the proposal, teams are still barred from contact with players until player leadership votes to approve the deal.

A deal seems to be 95 to 98 percent complete according to the NFLPA, but alas there still appears to one last issue preventing completion. The players want to have more control over discipline, unlike the current system that enables Commissioner Roger Goodell to be judge, jury, and executioner.

Mawae didn’t rule out the possibility of a player vote today, though it’s unclear whether what is actually on the table or not. Either way, the schedule of key dates the NFL released yesterday, after ratifying its proposal, is in serious jeopardy of being pushed back, especially if the players reject the proposal and request further negotiations.

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