National Football League

Raiders players give union option to decertify

Published Nov. 20, 2010 1:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Oakland Raiders have become the final team to vote to give the NFL Players Association the option of decertifying if there is a lockout next year.

Union spokesman Carl Francis said the Raiders' players voted Thursday on the issue. The current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2010 season.

Decertification would give the union a chance to sue under antitrust laws if there is a lockout. Without decertification, the union would have to wait six months to file a suit after the collective bargaining agreement expired.

The Raiders also elected tight end Zach Miller as the team's new player rep. Linebacker Ricky Brown and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski are the alternates.