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NFLPA May Open The Dues Lockout Fund

As long as the NFLPA and the NFL do not come up with a solution regarding a new collective bargaining agreement and the NFL’s lockout is not enjoined by a court of law, the NFLPA will begin making payments to the players it represents starting on April 15, 2011.  Players will receive 1/6 of the amount of dues that they paid into the Dues Lockout Fund on the 15th day of every month starting on April 15th and ending on September 15, 2011.  At this point in time, there is no indication as to what will happen to any remaining funds should the parties come to a resolution regarding a new collective bargaining agreement prior to September 15.

Players who have deposited money into the Dues Lockout Fund and wish to start receiving payments on April 15th must complete the direct deposit enrollment form embedded below and return it to the NFLPA  with a voided check from their checking account or a bank letter verifying the account information.

Email the completed form and a copy of the voided check to accounting@nflplayers.com, fax it to (202) 756-9319, or mail it to NFLPA, Attn: Accounting, 1133 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.