Players can soon draw from lockout fund (AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)—Each NFL player who contributed to a lockout fund will be
able to begin collecting up to a total of about $60,000.

After setting aside union dues and royalties during recent seasons, eligible
players may start drawing from the fund April 15.

NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith said on March 18 that money was
available to help players while they are not receiving paychecks during the
lockout, which owners imposed after the collective bargaining agreement expired.
Smith would not provide details.

The NFLPA sent players an email—a copy of which was obtained by The
Associated Press—to let them know its board of player directors “approved the
payout from the Lockout Fund to begin on April 15, in six installments or until
the lockout ends.”

Players were instructed to fill out a direct deposit enrollment form
attached to the email.

NFL.com first reported Tuesday about the NFLPA email.

Negotiations for a new CBA broke off March 11. The union announced that day
it was dissolving itself and no longer represented the players. That allowed
players to file a class-action antitrust lawsuit in federal court. Hours later,
at midnight, the owners locked out the players, creating the NFL’s first work
stoppage since 1987.

A hearing on players’ request for an injunction to lift the lockout is
scheduled for April 6 in St. Paul, Minn.

The main sticking point throughout contract talks was how to divide the
NFL’s more than $9 billion in annual revenues.