DeMaurice Smith (executive director) Kevin Mawae (president) Tom Brady Peyton Manning Drew Brees Roger Goodell (commissioner) Robert Kraft (lead negotiator)[1] The 2011 National Football League Player lockout was a work stoppage imposed by the owners of the NFL's 32 teams that lasted from March 12, 2011, to July 25, 2011.
The end of the lockout coincided with the formation of a new collective bargaining agreement prior to the start of the 2011 regular season.
[5] A major reason the owners opted out of the CBA early was that they wanted a larger percentage of league revenue.
On March 1, 2011, judge David S. Doty ruled that the NFL had been actively strategizing for a lockout of the players for more than two years.
[15] After the renunciation of collective bargaining rights, quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees joined seven other NFL players and filed an antitrust suit to enjoin the lockout.
[16][17][18] On April 25, 2011, U.S. District Court judge Susan Richard Nelson invalidated the lockout and ordered the league to resume operations.
[21] The stay was extended through at least June 3, when a full appeal was heard;[22] the Eighth Circuit vacated Nelson's ruling on July 8, affirming the legitimacy of the lockout, but also suggested that Judge Nelson could impose an injunction of the lockout as it relates to players not under contract such as free agents and rookies.
[9] In addition, there was also some cushion in the 2011 schedule just in case the labor dispute lasted into September and the planned start of the regular season.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that Super Bowl XLVI could be moved a week later if needed, so that the entire season could be played in full.
The league also had a plan for a longer lockout, which included an abbreviated eight-game season beginning in late November.
The retirees wanted the NFL lockout lifted to ensure their pensions and health benefits remained funded.
According to the lawsuit, those benefits would end if a collective bargaining agreement was not renewed by next March 11, a year after the last one expired.
[35] When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith signed the agreement, the lockout officially ended.
[37] For the 2011 season, teams had the ability to "borrow" $3 million in future salary cap space to use on a signed player.
Fifth, a team's ability to place a franchise or transition tag on top players to retain his rights did not change.
[43] The owners were unable to get an additional $1 billion off the top of all revenue, an 18-game season, and rights of first refusal for the 2011 unrestricted free agents.