NFL players file antitrust lawsuit against the league

NFL players file antitrust lawsuit against the league
AP/file
NFL players file antitrust lawsuit against the league
AP/file

NFL players file antitrust lawsuit against the league

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

NFL players have begun filing antitrust lawsuits against the league. That comes after their union filed to decertify.

Chicago Bears place-kicker Robbie Gould is the union representative for his team. He says players don’t like having a labor agreement up in the air.

“You know, it makes it tough on families,” said Gould. “So now, guys are going to start paying for their own healthcare. But the other part of it too is they have to work out and be prepared that if a deal does get finished that you have to be ready to come in and prepare for game one.”

MVP Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are among the players who have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL to prevent a lockout. Just after the players’ union decertified Friday, the players filed suit against the NFL in U.S. District Court, seeking class-action against the league. They also filed a request for an injunction that would keep the NFL and the teams from engaging in a lockout.

Also included in the lawsuit are Vincent Jackson, Ben Leber, Logan Mankins, Brian Robison, Osi Umenyiora, Mike Vrabel, and Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, who is entered in this year’s draft.

The players allege that the NFL conspired to deny the players’ ability to market their services.

The league hasn’t had a work stoppage since 1987.