With 90 minutes left until the end of the business day, the NFL owners and the NFL Players Association appear no closer to reaching a deal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The head of the NFLPA, DeMaurice Smith, has informed the players that the plan for the moment is to decertify the union before 3:00 p.m. MT today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Schefter countenances that with a mention that "it always could" change, but what happens if the union decertifies? This would allow the players to bring legal action against the NFL while the owners impose a lockout. Under one scenario, however, the players could ask for an injunction that would allow free agency and trades to happen before a new CBA is reached, though how long that takes is up for debate.
But if the union decides not to decertify, another extension of the current deal could occur. However, at this point, decertification appears to be the eventual outcome.