The Atlanta Falcons Football Club LLC et al v. The National Football League Players Association et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT filed by The Atlanta Falcons Football Club and The National Football League Management Council. Consent form to proceed before U.S. Magistrate and pretrial instructions provided. ( Filing fee $ 350.00 receipt number 113E-3805221.) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit -A Part 1, # 2 Exhibit -A Part 2, # 3 Exhibit -A Part 3, # 4 Exhibit -A Part 4, # 5 Exhibit -B, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet)(eop) Please visit our website at http://www.gand.uscourts.gov to obtain Pretrial Instructions.

Exhibit A
(Part 1 of 4)

NFL
COLLECTIVE

BARGAINING
AGREEMENT
2006-2012
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BE1WEEN
THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
AND
THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
March 8, 2006

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I.
1

NFL PLAYERS
ASSOCIATION

EXHIBIT
A

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TI\BLE OF CONTENTS
IN"fRODUCfION .... .. .. ... .. .. ... . ........... ........ .. 1
PREAMBLE .. . .. . .............. ... .. ............ .. .. . .. .3

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS .......... . ..... .......... " . " ..4
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.

General Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .4
Free Agency Definitions .........................5
Salary Cap Definitions ... .......•..•............6
Further Definitions .......... ; ... .. ...... .. .... 7

ARTICLE II GOVERNING AGREEMENT ...... ..... .. ........ .8
Section 1. Conflicts .. .... .. . . .. ................ . . ...... 8
Section 2. Implementation .... .. .... ... .. . .. ... . ........ 8
Section 3. Management Rights ................ .... ........ 8
Section 4. Rounding .. . . ... . ... . ..... . . . ...... . ....... .8

ARTICLE III SCOPE OF AGREEMENT . ..... . .. ..... . .. ..... .9
Section 1. Scope ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... .9
Section 2. Arbitration ........ ... . .. . . . ... ..... . ........ 9

ARTICLE IV NO STRIKE/LOCKOUT/SUIT ................... 10
Section 1. No StrikelLockout ... . . ... . .. . ................ 10
Section 2. No Suit ............. ... . .. .... . .. ........ . .10
Section 3. Releases ...... . ..... . . . ...... ....... • ...... 11

ARTICLE V UNION SECURIlY ........ .. .. . .. .. ...... . ... .12
Section 1. Union Security ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 12
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

Check-off .. ........ . .. . . .. .. . .. . .. .. .. ... .. 12
NFLPA Meetings .......... .. . . .... .. ... . , ... .12
NFLPA Player Group Licensing Program .... .. . .... 12
Disputes . . ... ................ . ............. 13
Procedure for Enforcement .. . ..... . .. ........ . .13
NFLPA Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 14
Orientations .................... . .. ......... 14
Rookie Symposium ........................... 14

ARTICLE VI NFLPA AGENT CERTIFICATION ................ 16
Section 1. Exclusive Representation ...... . .. ..... . ....... .16
Section 2. Enforcement ............... .... . .... . ..... .. 16
Section 3. Penalty .................. ................. .16

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ARTICLE VII PlAYERSECURI1Y . .... . . .. ..... . ..... . ..... .18
Section 1. No Discrimination ................ ........ ... 18
Section 2. Personal Appearance .... . . .. ..... . ......... .. .18
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

CLUB DISCIPLINE .. . . ................ . .... .19
Maximum Discipline ................. .. .. ..... 19
Published Lists .................. ......... . . .20
Uniformity .............. . ................•.20
Disputes ... .. .......... . ................ . . .20
Deduction ..... ; .... . ... ..... . ............ .20
NFL Drug and Steroid Policies ............... . . .21
Cumulative Fines .. .. ....... . ....... .. ... . ... 21
Offset of Pre-Season Fine Amounts . ............. .21
Effective Date ................ . . ..... ... . .. ..22

ARTICLE IX NON-INJURY GRIEVANCE . ....... . ........... .23
Section 1. Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... , .23
Section 2. Initiation ..... ..... ... ... ......... .. .. . . ... .23
Section 3. Filing .. .. .. .. . . .... . .. . .. . ... . ........ . . . .23
Section 4. Ordinary and Expedited Appeal . ...... . ... .... . .23
Section 5. Discovery .. . .. ..................... . ....... 24
Section 6. Arbitration Panel ...... . .... ...... . .. ... . . . .. .24
Section 7. Hearing .... ........ ..... ... . .... . . ... .. . .. .25
Section 8. Arbitrator's Decision and Award ........ ... .. ... .26
Section 9. Time limits ................ .. .. . ............ 26
Section 10. Representation ............................. 26
Section 11. Costs ...... ... .... ............ . .. . . . .... .26
Section 12. Payment .. ..... ... ... .. ................... 27
Section 13. Grievance Settlement Committee ............... 27
ARTICLE X INJURY GRIEVANCE ......... . ..... . ... .. .... . .28
Section 1. Definition '" ... ... .. . ...................... 28
Section 2. Filing .. ....... .. . . . . . . ........ .. ...... .. . .28
Section 3. Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .28
Section 4. Neutral Physician .............. . ......... .... 29
Section 5. Neutral Physician Ust ... . . . ................. .. 29
Section 6. Appeal . .... .. .. ................. . .. , ..... .30
Section 7. Arbitration Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 30
Section 8. Hearing ... .. .. .. .................. . .... . .. .30
Section 9. Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . ......... .31
Section 10. Expenses ........ . ............ . ......... . .32
Section 11. Pension Credit ... . .. ... ... . ..... .. ... ...... 32
Section 12. Payment ........ . . .. .. .... .......... ..... .32
Section 13. Presumption of Fitness .. .... . ...... ... ...... .32
Section 14. Playoff Money ...... ... ... ............. . ....33
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Section 15. Information Exchange ................... , ... .33
Section 16. Discovery ........ , .. ... .......... ... .. .. . .33
ARTICLE XI COMMISSIONER DISCIPUNE ...•.....•..•..... 34
Section 1. League Discipline ..... ... ...... ... . ..... . ... .34
Section 2. TIme limits ..•............•..........•...... 34
Section 3. Representation ....... ...... .. . . " .... , •.... .34
Section 4. Costs .... , ............ , . .. .. ....... , ......35
Section 5. One Penalty . . ..... .. .... .. ..... . ...... " .. .35
Section 6. Fine Money ......... . .... . .......... . ..... , .35
ARTICLE XlI INJURY PROTECTION . .. .. . ............. .... .36
Section 1. Qualification .. ... . . .... . . . _... .. ..... ..... . .36
Section 2. Benefit ..................... , .... ,........ .36
Section 3. Disputes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
ARTICLE XIII
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.

COMMITTEES .................. . .......... .38
Joint Comminee . . .......................... .38
Competition Committee ..•. . ... . , . . .. . . . ..... .39
Player/Club Operations Committee ...... .. . . .. . . .39

ARTICLE XlV
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

NFL PlAYER CONTRACf .. .......... .... ... ..40
Fonn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... 40
TeInl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 40
Changes ........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ 40
Confonnity ... . . . .. .. .. . ..... , . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
General, Notices, Prohibitions, etc.. ...... .. .. .... 40
Commissioner Disapproval ...... , ........ ... . . .42
NFLPA Group Licensing Program ........... ... . .42
Good Faith Negotiation ...................•. . • .43
Limitations on Salary Forfeitures . . ............. . .43

ARTICLE XV omON ClAUSE ........................... .45
Section 1. Prohibition .......................... . ......45
ARTICLE XVI
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

COLLEGE DRAfT .......................... .46
TIme of Draft ..... . .... . ........ .......•.... 46
Number of Choices and Eligibility .. , .... . ....... .46
Required Tender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. ..... •. 46
Signing of Drafted Rookies ... .... . ...... .. . .. . .46
Other Professional Teams .......... .... . ... .. ..47
Return to College . ..... .. .... ........ . .. .. . . .48
Assignment of Draft Rights ...... ,.. . .......... .49
Subsequent Draft ........................... ,49
No Subsequent Draft .... ........ . . ... ..... ... 49
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Section 10. Compensatory Draft Selections ....•........ ... .49
Section 11. Undrafted Rookies .....' ...... ..... .... ..... .49
Section 12. Notice of Signing .... . ..•........•......... .50
ARTICLE XVII
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.

ENTERING PlAYER POOL •............. ... . .51
Definition .............•....•..•............ 51
Covered League Years ........................ .51
Calculation ...............•................ .51
Operation . .... .. . ... ... ... . . . . .. ... . .. . . . . .53
Rookie Player Contract Length . . . .. . ... . .. . ... .. 55

ARTICLE XVIII VETERANS WITH LESS THAN
THREE ACCRUED SEASONS ....... .. .. .... . .. . .... . . .. 56
Section 1. Accrued Seasons Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . .56
Section 2. Negotiating Rights of Players With Less
Than Three Accrued Seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
ARTICLE XIX VETERAN FREE AGENCY .....................57
Section 1. Unrestricted Free Agents ... .. . . .... . ... .. .. ... .57
Section 2. Restricted Free Agents ...................... .. .58
Section 3. Offer Sheet and First Refusal Procedures ... ..... . . .63
Section 4. Expedited Arbicration . .. .. . . . .... . ..... . ... . . .65
Section 5. Individually Negotiated Limitations
on Player Movement .......................... . .. .. .66
Section 6. Notices, Etc ... . . . . ... ..... . . . ........ ... .. . .66

ARTICLE XX FRANCHISE AND TRANSITION PlAYERS ........ 68
Section 1. Franchise Player Designations .... . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .68
Section 2. Required Tender for Franchise Players ............. 68
Section 3. li'ansition Player Designations ..... ...... . . . ..... 71
Section 4. Required Tender for Transition Players . . . .. .. . ..... 71
Section 5. Right of First Refusal for Transition Players ...•..•... 72
Section 6. Lists . . ... . .. . ...... .. .... .. . .... . . . . ... . .. 72
Section 7. Salary Infonnation . ... . . .. .. . . . .. .. . . .. ..... .. 72
Section 8. No Assignment ... .. . . . .. . . ...... ..... . . ... .. 73
Section 9. Duration of Designation [no longer applicable1 ... . .... 73
Section 10. Franchise Player Designation Pertod .............. 73
Section 11. Transition Player Designation Period .......... . .. 74
Section 12. Prospective Designation [no longerapplicablel ....... 74
Section 13. Right [0 Decline [no longer applicable] ..... . .. . .... 74
Section 14. Other Tenns .... ............. ,.... ..•...... 74
Section 15. Compensatory Draft Selection . . . . . . .. . ........ .75
Section 16. Signing Period for Transition Players ............ .75
Section 17. Signing Period for Franchise Players .. .. .... . . . . .. 75

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ARTICLE XXI
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

FINAL EIGHT PlAN ..... .. ... . .............. 77
Application ................................. 77
Top Four Teams ........•.••..•••••....•.....•77
Next Four Teams ........ . ................ . .•. 77
Replacement of Free Agents Signed by Other Club ... 77
Increases .............. . ................ . ... 78
Salary Definition .... . ... . .................... 78
Trade limitation ............................. 78
Transition and Franchise Players ............. .. .. 78
Player Tenders . . . . . . . ...•...••..•...•......•. 78

ARTIUE XXII
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.

WAIVER SYSTEM ..................... . . . . . .79
Release .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Contract . . . ... . .. . .. . .... . ............ .. ... 79
Ineligibility ........... , ........ . .. . .... .. .. .. 79
Notice of Termination ... ... .............. .. . .. 79
NFLPA's Right to Persormel Information ...... . .. . .80
Rosters ...... . .. .. ............... . ......... 80
Procedural Recall Waivers .... . .. . ........ . .....80

ARTICLE XXIII TERMINATION PAY .......•................81
Section 1. Eligibility .... .. . . ........ . ........ . . .. . . ... 81
Section 2. Regular Season Signings .,', ........... , ....... 81
Section 3. Ineligibility for Tennination Pay ..... .. . . . . .. .. ... 81

ARTICLE XXIV GUARANTEED LEAGUE-WIDE SAIARY,
SAlARY CAP, &t MINIMUM TEAM SAIARY ..............•82
Section 1. Definitions .................. .. .. . ... ... .... 82
Section 2. Trigger For Guaranteed league-wide Salary,
Salary Cap, and Minimum Team Salary ........ . .... . .... 95
Section 3. Guaranteed League-wide Salary ..... . . . .. . .. .. .. .95
Section 4. Salary Cap Amounts .......••.....•........... 96
Section 5. Minimum Team Salary . .... . .................. 102
Section 6. Computation of Team Salary ..... . ... . . .. .. . . .. 102
Section 7. Valuation of Player Contracts . ........... . . ... .. 104
Section S. 30% Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Section 9. Renegotiations and Extensions ... . .. . ...... . ...134
Section 10. Accounting Procedures ......... .. ..... . . . ... 135
Section 11. Revenue Sharing .......... , . . . . .... ... .. . .. 143

ARTICLE:XXV ENFORCEMENT OF mE SAIARY
CAP AND ENTERING PlAYER POOL ..... . ... .. . . . .. ... 145
Section 1. Undisclosed Terms . . . ... . ...... . ... . .......•145
Section 2. Circumvention .......................•..... 145
Section 3. Special Master Action ........... , . . ......... .145

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Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Section 9.

Commissioner Disapproval ..... . . .. . ........ . .145
Special Master Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 146
Sanctions ......, .. . ,.. .. ... ... . .. .... . . . .. 146
Revenue Circumvention . . .. . .. .. ... .. .. . . .. .. 147
Management Council Audit Rights . ... . . ..... . .. 148
Prior Consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 148

ARTICLE XXVI SPECIAL MASTER ... . .. .... ...... . .. . ... . .149
Section 1. Appointment . . ..... .......•..... . . . ... .. . . 149
Section 2. Scope of Authority . . .. ... . . ... .. ... ...... . . . 149
Section 3. Discovery .......................... ; ...... 150
Section 4. Compensation ............................. 150
Section 5. Procedures ... . ............... . ............ 150
Section 6. Selection of Special Master .. . .. . ..... . . ... ... . 151
Section 7. Penalties .....................•..... ~ ...... 151
ARTICLE XXVII IMPARTIAL ARBITRATOR ... ........... . . .. 152
Section 1. Selection .... . . . ... . ....... . ... . ........ . . .152
Section 2. Scope of Authority .......... . .. ............. 152
Section 3. Effect of Rulings ............ . .. ... . ... . . .. . .152
Section 4. Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .152
Section 5. Compensation of Impartial Arbitrator . .. . . .... . .. 152
Section 6. Procedures . . .... . ......................... 152
Section 7. Selection of Impartial Arbitrator ....... .. .. ..... . 153
ARTICLE XXVIII ANTI-COllUSION ..... . . .... . . . ......... 154
Section 1. Prohibited Conduct . . . ... . . .. . . .. . ... . .. .. .. 154
Section 1a. Commissioner Approvals .. ..... . .. . . . .. . . .... 154
Section 2. Other Club Conduct ... ... . ..... . ........ .. .. 154
Section 3. Club Discretion .. . . ....... ... . .. .. . .... . . . . .154
Section 4. League Disclosures ................ . . ........ 155
Section 5. Enforcement of Anti-Collusion Provisions .. ... . ... 155
Section 6. Burden of Proof ...... .... . . ....... . . .. . .. ... 155
Section 7. Summary Judgment ..... . . .. . .. . ....... .. . .. 1515
Section B. Remedies ..... . . ... ... .... .. .... . .. . ...... 156
Section 9. Computation of Damages ... . .... ... ..... . .... 157
Section 10. Player Election ....... .. ......... . ..... . .. . 157
Section 11. Payment of Damages .. .. . . .... . '. . . . . . ... . . . . 158
Section 12. Effect on Cap Computations ..... . . . .... . .... . 158
Section 13. Effect of Salary Cap ...... .. ...... ... .... . ... 158
Section 14. No Reimbursement ... . . .. . .. ..... . ... .. . .. . 158
Section 15. Costs ..... . . . ... .. ... . .. ..... .... ... . ... 158
Section 16. Tennination .. . ................ .. .......... 158
Section 17. lime limits .... ... . .. .. ..... .. ... . ........ 159
Section 18. Prior Conference .. .. . . . .... . . . ... ... . .. . .. . 159
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ARTICLE XXIX CERTIFICATIONS .. . . ... ... .... . ...• . . . . .. 160
Section 1. Contract Certification ..... . ....... .. ..... . . . .160
Section 2. End of League Year Certification ........... ... • .160
Section 3. False Cenification ......... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161

ARTICLE XXX CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION SHARING .163
Section 1. Consultation and Communications .... .... .. .... 163
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.

Salary Summaries ......... . , .. . . . . . .. ...... .163
Notice of Invalid Contract ...... .... . .. . ...... .163
Neutral Verifier ... . ....... .. . ....... .. .. .... 163
Copies .................. .... . ... .... . .. . . 164
Meetings . . ...... . ... .. .. .... • •.... ..... . .. 164

ARTICLE XXXI EXPANSION ........ . ........ . . .. .. .. .... .165
Section 1. Veteran Allocation . ..... ... . . , , . . . , . . . . . . . . , .165
Section 2. Additional Compensatory Picks ...... ... ...... , .165
Section 3. Entering Player Pool Adjustment .. ..... , ...... . .165
Section 4, Relocation Bonus ... " . . .. , ... ..... ,', .. ,., .165

ARTICLE XXXII OrnER PROVISIONS , ...... . .............. 166
Section 1. CFL Rule ., .. "...., .. , .... . .... , .. , ..... . 166
Section 2,
Section 3,
Section 4.
Section 5.

Physically Unable [0 Perform , .. , , . .. . ... .. , .... 166
Non-FootballInjury . . . , .. ............ , .. .... 166
Roster Exemption . .. . ....... . , . .. .. . . ...... .166
Arena Football Players .. ... . .................. 167

ARTICLE XXXIII SQUAD SIZE ........... . ... ; ........ . .. .169
Section 1. Active List . ... . .... . . ............ . ..• . ... . .169
Section 2. Pre-Season .. . ... . ............ . ...... . ..... 169
Section 3. Inactive List .... . ......, .. ,.....,....... ... 169
Section 4. Active and Inactive List Limit .. .... . .... . ...... 169
ARTICLE XXXIV PRACllCE SQUADS .. . , . . ....... . .... . ... 170
Section 1. Practice Squads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 170
Section 2. Signing With Other Clubs .... . , .. . ......... . . .170
Section 3. Salary . . . . . . ... . ..... .. . .. . . . ............. 171
Section 4. Eligibility ... . .... . ..... .. , . .. .. " . . .. , ... .17l
Section 5. Active List . . . .. , . ........... . ..... , .. , . .... 171

ARTICLE XXXV OFF-SEASON WORKOUTS .. . .. .. .. . , . , ... .172
Section 1. Voluntary Workouts , .. , ... . .. . . . , . .. . ... . . . .172
Section 2. Time Periods ............. .. .. , ........ ... . . 172
Section 3. Payment .. " .. . ... , ... . .... . .. , ...... . , . . ,172
Section 4. Injuries . . . , ..... . . .. , .. .. , . . . , , . . .. , .. . .. .173
Section 5 . Miscellaneous . , . . . . . , , . . . . . . . .... , . . . ... .. ,173
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