UCLA Entertainment Law Review

The NFL survived the 2011 offseason despite being bombarded by a

sports law perfect storm. The National Football League Players

Association (NFLPA or the Players) decertified itself as the bargaining

representative of NFL players on March 11, 2011, hours before the

expiration of the collective bargaining agreement that the NFL and the

NFLPA agreed to in 2006 (the 2006 CBA). That night, nine current

NFL players and one prospective NFL player, led by New England

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the

NFL and its 32 Clubs.

The Brady lawsuit was just part of a litigious 2011 in professional

football. The NFL responded to the Brady lawsuit with a "lockout."

Players could not report to work, Clubs could not have any contact

with players and, eventually, games could have been missed. In

addition to the Brady lawsuit, the Players sought damages related to the

NFL's television contracts that allegedly violated the 2006 CBA,

retired players fought for their rights in the labor negotiations, and the

NFL contended that the NFLPA had failed to bargain in good-faith in a

proceeding before the National Labor Relations Board.

The NFL and NFLPA ultimately reached a settlement of the various

lawsuits and agreed to a new CBA (the 2011 CBA) without missing

any regular season games. This Article examines the history of labor

negotiations in the NFL, provides a thorough examination of the most

recent labor dispute and its related legal actions, and concludes with a

detailed analysis of the 2011 CBA.