And what if the NFLPA arranges an agreement with another network to have a show during the draft with the players? There'd still be a green room, an audience, tables with families, etc. They would go up and shake DeSmith's hand instead of Goodell's. You think they care about shaking the hand of some middle-aged white man who never played in the NFL and will proceed to fine them and try his best to lower their wages over the span of their careers? Please. And on top of that, the NFLPA could arrange for the players who attend to actually get some money from the TV contract they negotiate for the event. There's a novel concept: paying the people who actually do something to generate money.

Get over yourself Cowherd. The players don't give a (blank) about Roger Goodell.

Additionally, consider that these top players are the same ones that would be screwed by the new CBA. The Union is fighting any change to the revenue-sharing arrangement, fighting any change to the length of the season, fighting pretty much anything else that would alter the status quo. But they are quick to concede on implementing a rookie wage scale that will drastically cut first round contract sizes (which isn't hard to understand once you consider that the union's existing members have a vested interest in directing more money to veterans...).

If I'm a top 15 pick who stands to make millions less in my rookie deal because of the union that purports to represent me, I wouldn't feel too much solidarity in the cause. In fact, best case scenario would be to be the draft day darling the NFL wants- hoping for 1) no quick agreement on a new CBA, which could allow me to get a big contract before rookie limits come into play, and 2) goodwill with fans and ownership that could translate to a few more dollars on the deal...

Let me see if I have this right.....

The union decertifies, which means it no longer has any legal standing vis a vis the players and/or the league regarding representation. The players are now , in fact, indepedent contractors, free to act on their own. Which is why Brady, Manning, Brees, et. al. have filed separate law suit in court.

Second, these are draft "choices," not signed players. They owe no allegiance to anyone except themselves and their families,

Third, it's because of the decertification and lockout that these same drafted players will not be able to sign with the clubs that draft them, leaving them to wait for signing bonuses months after they were selected.

These guys have every right to say "This is my time in the sun, my day to shine, my day to make my family proud after years of sacrifice"

And I think the vast majority of them will.

I'm generally on th eplayers side but this idea is just plain stupid.

Maybe the owners shouldn't hold a draft at all while they are locking out their players. Each of the players drafted is not going to be signed or allowed to visit team facilities until after the lockout is over, after all. Is it really the union putting these college athletes in this situation, or the owners? Going ahead with a draft under these circumstances is very odd.