Time Out: History of NFL Strikes and Lockouts

The NFL lockout of 2011 occurred at an incredibly inopportune time for the sport of football. All work stoppages are an obvious inconvenience to owners, coaches, players, and most importantly, the fans.

However, the 2000s have been the era in which the NFL has soared to new heights in popularity. The NFL was by a considerable margin America's favored sport when the lockout ensued in March of 2011 due to two sides unable to come to a consensus with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In March of 2011, the Collective Bargaining Agreement expired and a complete breakdown in negotiations transpired. Some of the issues involve revenue split, an increase to an 18-game schedule, retirement funds, and rookie salary cap. This led to the decertification of the NFLPA in an attempt to end the lockout by an injunction. Several NFL stars such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees filed antitrust suits against the NFL. Meanwhile, players are not allowed to work out at team facilities.

This is not the only work stoppage the NFL has encountered. The difference from past strikes and lockouts is that the NFL was thriving like never before in 2010 and 2011.

In 1956, over a half century prior to the notorious 2011 NFL lockout, the National Football Players' Association was established. Immediately, there were threats of players striking, primarily because owners were supposedly not taking care of training camp expenses.

Twelve years later, the NFL players went on strike during training camps mainly due to higher minimum salaries and larger salaries for preseason games. The strike lasted from July 3 to July 14.

In 1970, the NFL locked out the players, and then the players responded by going on strike. However, when the owners threatened to discard the entire 1970 season, the players returned to work and there were no canceled games. They also agreed to a four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The NFL players went on strike in 1974, as they demanded guarantee salaries and a new CBA altogether. Following 42 days, the players eventually decided to take the matter to the courts, and the union's executive director Edward Garvey encouraged the players to return to work. Fortunately, no regular season games faced cancellation or postponement, just an exhibition game. Nevertheless, the courts eventually favored the players. The strike lasted from July 1 to Aug. 11.

Eight years later in 1982, the NFL players went on strike once again, as it lasted from Sept. 21 to Nov. 17. The owners, therefore, locked out the players when the strike began, and it had an impact on the entire season. Each team competed in only nine regular season as opposed to the scheduled 16. The playoffs became a tournament-style showdown featuring 16 teams seeded accordingly. At the time, only 10 teams qualified for the playoffs. A disagreement between the NFLPA and NFL owners due to the percentages of gross revenues was the primary source behind the work stoppage.

In 1987, NFL players went on a 24-day strike that began following the second week of the season. The NFL canceled the week three full slate of games, but returned to action for week four with replacement players. This lasted for three weeks. The disputes in 1987 were based on free agency, drug testing, guaranteed contracts, pensions, and minimum salaries.

The NFL is not the only professional sport to encounter labor issues. The NBA, NHL, and MLB have faced multiple work stoppages over the years. Even NASCAR faced a boycott by many of its drivers at Talladega in 1969 over safety concerns.

No sporting association is immune.