The worst case scenario is here. The NFL owners and players could not find common ground on core issues by today's 5:00PM et deadline and thus the NFLPA has filed decertification papers in Federal Court, essentially dissolving the group as a union. After making the decision, the former NFLPA released the following statement
"The NFL Players Association announced today it has informed the NFL, NFL clubs and other necessary parties that it has renounced its status as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of the players of the National Football League.
"The NFLPA will move forward as a professional trade association with the mission of supporting the interests and rights of current and former professional football players."
What comes next is litigation. The precious money both sides were fighting for will go to lawyers and the fans will be left to wait, and wonder, what comes next. We can only hope cooler heads will prevail, but hope is fleeting fast.