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A moment on solidarity and unity was seen on Thursday night as the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints got ready to open the 2010 regular season. Before kickoff, players from both teams walked out onto the field and each held up their index finger.

No, they weren't signaling that their team was the best. They were declaring that all of the players are one being, one entity in the discussions with the league owners for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The current deal is up at the end of this season and if a new one is not agreed upon, then there could be a lockout meaning no football in 2011.

Check out a video of the incident: Saints and Vikings show solidarity

The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints voted unanimously, 59-0, to authorize the National Football League Player's Association (NFLAPA) to decertify as a union should talks on the new CBA come to an impasse.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith downplayed the situation when contacted by ESPN on Saturday. Smith asked the Saints to vote on the procedure after meeting with the team in New Orleans, but he advised that all 32 teams will end up taking the same action.

The Saints voted on the issue this past Monday. A source within the union said that officials from the NFLPA are scheduled to soon meet with other teams including the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles. The process with all 32 teams is expected to be done by Thanksgiving.

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lynwood

What does that mean exactly?

QBREES9

So they can sue the NFL if they have to. UNION !!!!

poydras

I was at the game. Had I known what that was all about, I would have booed both teams and probably left at halftime.

Danny Cox

Exactly as QBREES said...if this does happen, then that means the players can then sue the NFL, the NFL will then in turn probably counter-sue the players, and it will not only be no football next year...but a huge mess.

CheramieIII

Here's the outcome if they decertify:

The letter also says if the union does not decertify before March and the expiration of the CBA, it can’t sue the league for six months.

Decertification also would strip the union of collective bargaining rights on behalf of the players, and could affect marketing of the players through NFL Players, the marketing arm of the union.

AP source: Union considering decertification vote - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Kinda defeats the whole purpose as I see it. If they can't get the votes after the season to decertify how will they be able to get the votes in a short period of time to recertify the union so they can negotiate a new CBA. I think this entire strategy was thought up by a dumbarse, plain and simple!

Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.
Jimmy Demaret

lynwood

Gotta wonder what the big sticking points are?

Players wants more of the merchandise cash?

Rookie set salary?

Dealing with holdouts?

Wonder if we will have a season of replacement football? I'd still watch.

CheramieIII

I agree I would watch anyway and there's always college ball and the CFL

TopCow

I can't believe for a second that anyone would be stupid enough to let this thing degenerate into a strike. Just how thoroughly can vulgar amounts of cash destroy a man's judgment, mind, and soul? We may find out.

Still, it's hard for me to imagine that any player or owner would blow up the platinum mine that is the NFL for an even bigger platinum mine. If this does happen, though, it is time for the consumer to rebel by supporting whatever replaces the NFL. And to dance on the graves of the greedy morons.

SaintPauly

There are some good things, that the NFLPA want to structure, it involves money, but it involves it going to worthy places. Better care for retired players, rookie caps (with the money being paid to players that have already proven themselves, not fresh off the farm know nothings), sharing in merchandise sales (which last time I checked, jerseys have the players names on. If the owners believe in "team first", then take the names off, and just leave them as numbers, which is the way the players feel they are being treated anyway). Before you attack the players as greedy money mongerers, look at both sides to the argument. You might feel differently about it.

What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular.....