The NFLPA has issued a 64-page handbook to players that helps them prepare for a potential lockout.
Today, the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement appear to have taken a bad turn. The lead negotiator on behalf of the NFL, Jeff Pash, said the owners have offered more financial data to the players union than they've offered to the 32 NFL franchises.
The NFLPA, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, declined to look at the data. Therefore, it once again looks like they will file for decertification before the current CBA's expiration.
As I stated in a previous post, I will perform a lockout of my own, boycotting the NFL by not writing any posts regarding the league until a new CBA is agreed upon. While millions of Americans may, as DeMaurice Smith said, dig their game, we certainly don't dig the thought of the 2011 season being cancelled.
So in preparation of a lockout/decertification, I have prepared a handbook that gives NFL fans a few tips for how to deal with the chaos created by players and owners.
Tip No. 1 -- Boycott the NFL
NBC's Sunday Night Football had an average television audience of 21.8 million viewers.
Super Bowl XLV was the most-watched TV event in American history, with 111 million viewers.
So if the NFL is so popular, why would its players and owners risk alienating its fans to get a few more millions and billions of dollars at the negotiating table? Some say it's because the NFL is so popular.
Some say the NFL believes its popularity is immune to backlash caused by a season-long lockout. As my wall-to-wall coverage of this past Scouting Combine may indicate, they may have a point.
That is why I am planning this lockout. The NFL needs to know that its fans will not stand for the concept of a season being cancelled due to a labor dispute between millionaires and billionaires.
Therefore, if Friday passes without a new CBA or another extension, I am encouraging a boycott. No watching the NFL Draft, no logging onto NFL.com, no watching NFL Network.
I know this is a lot to ask for. But a message needs to be sent.
If you need NFL news, ESPN is a good source, both on television and online.
Tip No. 2 -- Sunday is Yours
Believe it or not, there's a lot of alternative options for Sundays during the fall in terms of things to do.
In sports alone, NFL Sundays interfere with Major League Baseball and NASCAR during the early stages of fall. Then later, there's the NHL and NBA (assuming there's no lockout in that league as well).
Or you could just spend time with friends and family. If you're into that sort of thing.
Tip No. 3 -- The DVR is The Only Sports Bar You'll Need
If you really need an NFL football fix, look into the archives.
Whether you recorded football games on your DVR, your VCR, or have a collection of DVDs featuring classic games, they can serve as emergency food for the football soul.
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