Talks between the NFL and the NFLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement broke down just hours before Friday night's deadline. The union decertified with players such as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning suing the league. The league said it hadn't decided whether to lock out the players, who went to court to request an injunction to block such a move. "The parties have not achieved an overall agreement, nor have they been able to resolve the strongly held competing positions that separated them on core issues," said federal mediator George Cohen, who took part in 16 days of negotiations. "No useful purpose would be served by requesting the parties to continue the mediation process at this time." By dissolving and announcing it no longer represents the players in collective bargaining, the NFL Players Association cleared the way for class-action lawsuits against the NFL.