In the past 24 hours, the NFL as you know it has changed drastically. To recap, the players have decertified their union.
Former Bear, alternate players rep and Grizzly Detailer Hunter Hillenmeyer gives you a breakdown of why the players felt this move was necessary here.
Then individual players then filed a lawsuit against the owners, claiming antitrust violations. While superstar players Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are all parties to the lawsuit, no Bear is.
The NFL owners then took the step of locking out the players, and released a statement detailing the move. It reads, in part:
Bears president Ted Phillips followed up with a statement from the team, echoing the owners' thoughts:
The reassuring part of their message is that they are confident that football will be played this fall, but until a collective bargaining agreement is signed, football is not guaranteed. What is guaranteed? Plenty of posturing, litigation and fingerpointing.
