After a long list of irreconcilable differences, the NFL and the NFL Players Association still have yet to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the current one that expires on March 3, 2011. If an agreement isnt reached, teams would have replacement players as opposed to the the current stars.

The players currently receive 59.6 percent of designated NFL revenues based on the agreement that was hastily negotiated in 2006. Team owners are looking to decrease that number because of a decimated economy and the high operation costs associated with new stadiums.

On the other hand, players are demanding an increase of salaries because of the physical brutality inflicted upon their bodies each week. This season has already seen an increase of 21 percent in reported concussions from last year.

The Players Association has the ability to dodge a lockout through decertification, which dissolves the union altogether. Decertification provides a legal means of protection for players, allowing for the possibility of an antitrust lawsuit against the owners if a lockout ensues.

A stoppage would pose a void of revenue to the networks that broadcast games; FOX and NBC average 20 million viewers per game, CBS provides another 18 million and ESPN boasts a total of 14 million patrons every Monday night. Even pre-game and post-game shows drive significant forms of advertising revenue.

League cities would surely become the biggest victims of economic detriment if the lockout occurs. Studies show that each of the 32 cities with teams would experience an average loss of $160 million and 3,000 jobs, with players accounting for 30 to 50 percent of local spending.

The NFL is the indisputable leader of American sports and drives the most revenue among any of the governing ...