The fantastic game played by the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers overshadowed an issue that most fans have been preparing themselves for ever since the half way point of last season. That issue, of course, is the looming potential of a lock out of next season's play.
At the start of the season we say all of the players displaying some union solidarity to show that they stand as one in their conflict with NFL owners. The players union says that it plans to decertify in order to prevent a lockout.
What does that mean, decertify? Well, I found a great article that explained this very well. Back in 1987, there was a strike in the NFL. In order to make sure that there was still a season, the owners decided to play out the season with replacement players, you may have seen a movie about this at some point. After the players came back, they attempted to sue the NFL under anti-trust laws, which it won, but later had overturned. They were told they needed to choose to be a union or not. If they decertified the union, the NFLPA would no longer be a union, but a "trade organization." As a trade organization, they could conceivably sue the NFL for locking them out under antitrust laws that it was being subjected to a group boycott, which is illegal.
It's an interesting ace in the sleeve that they have, but at the same time, it seems to be unfair. If the players want to have a say in their CBA, as a union should, then they need to be a union. You can't just take the things that you like about being a union and then drop it the second you don't like it.
The potential work stoppage has also created issues amongst the players. Several are taking the hard line union stance, while some, like Jets corner back Antonio Cromartie, are calling for the union and the owners to make certain that they get a deal done; saying that the union was not doing its job, claiming leadership was "acting like an a-hole." That prompted a response from Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, asking if "Cromartie knows what CBA stands for." Hasselbeck later deleted this tweet, but not without notice from Cromartie, who threatened that he would smash Hasselbeck's face in. Hardly projecting a picture of union unity.
In the end, this comes down to something that us fans cannot stand; millionaires arguing with billionaires about money. They owners say they aren't making enough money, and the players say that they can't verify that and don't believe them. Both groups lobby fans for support, but neither actually listens to what the fans want. The fans are the reason that these millionaires are as rich as they are and, once again, we are being thrown under the bus. The message from the fans is very clear, but since neither side seems to be able to understand it, let me simplify it for you.
**clears throat**
Attention owners. Attention players. Quit whining. Both of you make far more money than you rightfully should. Regardless of who "wins", you have both forgotten that neither of you can do without the fans. Without us, there is no attendance and no revenue to argue about. So, once again, SHUT UP! We don't care how you do it, but you all need to wear your big boy pants to work now, make some concessions, and get a deal done. The only alliance that the fans have is to the game itself. So knock it off.
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