NFL Headed for Lockout: Tom Brady Among Players Filing Lawsuit Against NFL

After 17 days of meditation, time and effort put into agreeing on a new labor deal between the NFL and player's association, the NFL could be headed for a work stoppage. 

The country's most popular league now sits in the hands of the United States court system—a possible lockout looms.

Friday, March 11 marked the deadline (of an already extended one) to come to terms on a new labor deal. Friday has come and gone, and been no new agreement has been reached.

The NFLPA filed for decertification at 5 p.m. EST. Immediately after, several players, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL.

After hours of meditation today, the former NFLPA released the following statement:

"The NFL left the players no choice."

No choice meaning lockout.

Following the 5 p.m. deadline, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released this statement to the press: 

"We do believe that mediation is the fairest and fastest way to reach an agreement that works for the players and for the clubs. And we believe that ultimately this is going to be negotiated at the negotiating table. They've decided to pursue another strategy and that is their choice. But we will be prepared to negotiate an agreement and get something done that is fair to the players and fair to the clubs."

The last time the NFL went into a work stoppage was 1987, and it could be well on its way to another.

Consider it official: the "Brady v. NFL" lawsuit has been filed. The 2011 NFL season is in jeopardy.

NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @  TonySantorsa