The deadline for the NFL Players Association and the owners to reach a new agreement comes at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 3. According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, both sides are preparing for their courses of action should no agreement be reached:
Being whispered: NFLPA files for decertification after tomorrow's mediation. CEC votes next day to lockout or close down. Then lawyers play.
By decertifying the union, the players would then be able to seek legal means to challenge the league in court. An owners' lockout of the players would prevent contact between the team and the players, stop the free agent period and, if it goes long enough, no training camp or regular season games. The NFL Draft will still take place April 28-30.
This report comes after news that today's mediation meeting went "better than expected," though without public knowledge of what went on in the talks this could mean very little.
With neither side looking to make concessions, it could be months before anyone starts to break this impasse.