NFL Labor Negotiations: 20 Ways Life Will Change If There Is a Lockout

NFL Labor Negotiations Continue, But How Will Life Change If There's a Lockout? 

The NFL owners and NFL Players Association agreed to a 24-hour stay of execution on the current Collective Bargaining Agreement yesterday, giving themselves an extra day to come to an agreement on a new one. 

Still, given all that we've heard from both sides over the last few months, it's hard to feel too reassured that a lockout isn't in the cards when the clock strikes 11:59 P.M. EST. 

But, if there's a lockout, what does that mean for us, the fans? How will our lives be affected by the squabbles between millionaires and billionaires over how much money each side gets? 

To help you come to grips with the potential future, we're bringing you 20 ways your life (and your sports) could change if there's a lockout. 

20. Nothing Changes

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 19: The stadium is full of fans as they watch the Denver Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 19, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 31-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Gett

This might be the most plausible way in which things change: they don't. Think about it; even if there's a lockout, that doesn't mean the owners and players stop negotiating. After all, it's still another five months before football actually gets underway again, and six months until Week 1 kicks off. 

That's plenty of time to get a deal done, and if they do, don't expect much to change. 

Of course, that's no fun, which is why we're assuming things do last into the season from here on out. 

19. Fans Stop Caring About the NFL

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DENVER - DECEMBER 26: Fans begin to occupy the empty seats prior to the game as the Denver Broncos host the Houston Texas at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Texans 24-23. (Photo by Doug Pensi

Fans don't like losing out on the sports they love, and the loss of even a game or two from the regular season could be more than enough for the majority of fans to be turned off to the NFL's greed and selfishness.

After all, why pay a couple thousand dollars for your season ticket (parking not included, of course), another $500 on a personal seat license and $10 for a watered down beer when it's clear that neither the players nor the owners care about you, or your allegiance to their team? 

Don't believe me? Ask Major League Baseball, the NHL and the NBA how their fanbases reacted to a lockout or work stoppage. 

After all, baseball was nearly destroyed by the strikes of 1994 and 1995, as disenchanted fans refused to come back to the game until a steroid enhanced home run arms race.

The NBA saw attendance bottom out after the lockout in 1998, and it took the arrival of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and the new generation of superstars to bounce it back. 

The NHL might have wound up the worst off of the bunch, losing a full season in 2004-2005 due to labor disputes. The league lost its television deals, is seldom seen on major networks, struggles to sell out many arenas and can be found on the Versus Network, quite the step down from ESPN's NHL 2Nite shows in the late 90's.

If you don't think fans will resent a work stoppage, you haven't been paying attention. 

18. People Find Religion

Without football as a good excuse not to go to church, temple, mosque or synagogue, fans will find themselves finding religion a whole lot more than they were before. 

Plus, they can pray for the league to come back as an added incentive. 

17. World Series Games Reign Supreme

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 28: A general view of Game Two of the 2010 MLB World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers at AT&T Park on October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Without the threat of NFL games poaching viewers or fans, Major League Baseball realizes that it no longer has to start World Series games at 8:00 P.M. on the East Coast; they could even *gasp!* start games during the day on Sundays! 

But, in the end, they'll still start too late for the sport's youngest fans to watch the whole game. 

16. Fantasy College Football Takes Off

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal throws pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty

There are currently millions of hardcore, diehard fantasy football players in the United States. If the NFL goes into a lockout, they can't exactly keep playing NFL fantasy football, now can they?

So, rather than simply taking a break from the pastime, look for football fans to move down a level to get their fix of fake football action.

15. People Watch More College Football

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald M

Without the NFL to distract them, you can bet fans will flock to the college game in greater numbers than ever before. 

That means more games, on more days of the week, and more Lee Corso. 

I don't know whether to be excited by that, or scared. 

14. Drew Rosenhaus Starts Working at Dairy Queen

After all, with no overpriced wide receivers, underperforming quarterbacks or lackluster corners to gouge NFL teams with, Rosenhaus is going to need something to do until the NFL comes back. 

You might see the price of a Dilly Bar skyrocket, but it's a small price to pay to see him putting cherry hard coat on your sundae. 

13. NFL Players Start a Barnstorming Tour

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty

Let's say we have a lockout, but for some reason, the union decides not to decertify right away. In that case, we could see the return of exhibition games and barnstorming tours by some of the NFL's biggest stars. 

They can't play for another team as long as the union is intact under current rules, but as long as they're not being paid by a team, NFL players are welcome to take part in exhibitions in non-NFL run stadiums. 

In short, we could see Tom Brady suiting up at At&T Park in San Francisco, or Drew Brees taking snaps at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. 

12. People Actually Care About the NBA's Regular Season

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MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat is guarded by Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks looks on during a game at American Airlines Arena on February 27, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr

I know, I know, it seems improbable to care about the NBA before March or April, right? 

But, with no NFL to keep you occupied, sports fans will just find their fix elsewhere, even if it means watching NBA players lollygag through a mid-November clash between the Kings and the Bobcats. 

11. Sunday Night Football Takes on a Whole New Meaning

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United scores a goal from an overhead kick during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on February 12, 2011 in Manchester, England.

All I'm saying is, the Premiership season starts at the same time the NFL season would, and with no American football on the horizon, it could be the World Cup all over again. 

Why not the MLS, you ask? Simple. American fans want to watch the best, and everyone knows that the MLS doesn't compare to the Premiership. 

10. Madden NFL 12 Gets a Whole New Look

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WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 28: National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith testify before the House Judiciary Committee about football brain injuries on Captiol Hill October 28, 2009 in

Sure, there will still be football video games even if the NFL is locked out, they'll just look a little different. 

Forget about franchise mode, Madden NFL 12 will come with the all-new "Negotiation Mode."

Take control of your favorite NFL player representative or owner and go toe-to-toe with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA president DeMaurice Smith or one of hundreds of authentic owners or players! 

Give vague interviews that tell your adoring fans little to nothing about the negotiations, and control the owners as they walk out on another fair proposal!

Featuring authentic voice over work done by NFL players, owners, Goodell, Smith and even federal mediator George Cohen!

9. Baseball Becomes the Real National Pastime Again

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JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals swings against the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

We're not just talking about the World Series. With no football to compete with, baseball will once more become the national obsession. Pundits will break down interviews and contract talks with the same fervor that they bring to the NFL, fans will pack bars to watch a tense divisional clash down the stretch and baseball's popularity will boom. 

Of course, the thought of all that extra revenue to milk teams out of will probably make Scott Boras' head explode, which is an added bonus. 

8. The NHL Sees Attendance, Viewership Skyrocket

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UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 29: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 29, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 2-1 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett

This is the stunner for many sports fans. But with the NFL gone, fans are seeking something to divert their attention from the fact that there's no professional football going on. 

The NHL gives them the violence of football, with a speed that football can't possibly replicate. 

Will it surpass football? Hardly. But you can expect a serious boost in popularity if the NFL's gone for too long. 

7. We Become Good Friends with Roger Cossack and Lester Munson

For those unfamiliar with Cossack and Munson, they are ESPN's legal analysts. We've already seen plenty of them recently thanks to the labor talks. But, if there's a lockout, they might as well live in their Bristol offices. That's how much they'll be on air. 

Eventually, they'll become as much a part of ESPN's round the clock coverage as Pedro Gomez, who I believe has a second house on Brett Favre's lawn. 

6. Arena Football Makes a Comeback

You remember Arena Football, right? This quirky league with it's 50-point per game offenses, 50-yard field and no sidelines? 

Sure, it didn't play a 2009 season, but it's back. If the NFL goes, it'll be more popular than ever. 

Not that that's saying all that much, of course. 

5. Other Events at NFL Stadiums

What do you do with a massive NFL stadium when there's no NFL football going on? 

That's going to be the quandary facing all 32 owners when the lockout extends through the season. After all, football is the big revenue producer in most, if not all of these stadiums. If the stadium's not making money, that means the owners are losing money.

Look for a lot of tractor pulls, concerts and marching band competitions going on come Sunday in many NFL cities this fall. 

4. The UFL Explodes in Popularity

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ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 22: Shaud Williams #21 of the Florida Tuskers runs during the game against the California Redwoods at the Florida Citrus Bowl on October 22, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Shocked by this revelation? Could the UFL possibly replace the NFL? If the lockout happens (a near certainty at this point), and the NFLPA votes to decertify (also a very real possibility), every NFL player is free to do as he sees fit. 

That includes joining another professional football league, like the UFL. Suddenly, the league has all of the NFL's stars, and the NFL's left out in the cold. 

There's no rule that says the NFL has to be the premier football league in the United States, so it is a possibility. 

Even if the union doesn't decertify, you can bet the UFL will get a popularity boost, particularly if the NFL misses a regular season game or two. 

3. NFL Players Have To Go Find Real Jobs

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PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 10: NFL quarterback Drew Brees plays a shot during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club on February 10, 2011 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty

NFL players always seem to need money, and the longer the lockout drags on, the tighter the players' wallets get. Sooner or later, they'll have to take another job, which could mean you'd see Drew Brees teeing off with Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning running a car dealership or Chad Ochocinco becoming a television personality. 

As for the coaches, they'll probably have to find work too, which means you could see Rex Ryan working at your local McDonald's!

2. NFL Uses Replacement Players

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HOUSTON - JULY 30: Quarterback John David Booty #10 of the Houston Texans throws passess during the team's first NFL training camp practice of the season at Reliant Park on July 30, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

This is essentially what the NFL did in 1987, when the players went on strike to get unfettered free agency. 

They hired "scabs", or replacement players. Sure, some of them were actual NFL players at the time, but the vast majority were former college players looking for another shot at professional glory. 

What does that mean for you? Teasers like this:

"This week on Monday Night Football, Marcus Vick and the Miami Dolphins take on Jim Bob Cooter and the New England Patriots!" 

Be afraid; be very afraid. 

1. No Brett Favre Retirement Drama

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talks at a post game press conference after a 13-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Think about it for a second. No NFL means no teams signing free agents, and no teams signing free agents means no team is going to try and convince Brett Favre to come back out of retirement. 

That means no Pedro Gomez camped out on anyone's lawn, no analysis of Brett Favre farting as he walks by the press and no tearful press conferences or interviews.

You know, this lockout might not be such a bad thing, after all.