NFL players have gone after the aid of congress to prevent the NFL owners from inflicting a lockout after next season. The players are hoping lawmakers in Washington D.C. can help overturn a possible victory in the Supreme Court antitrust case which would affect free agency amongst other things like ticket prices.

“We want Congress to know that management is pushing us toward a lockout,” said Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae who is also the union president and part of the 30 current and former players who were on Capitol Hill to discuss the issue.

Mawae said that he along with others hope that Congress will wield its influence over the NFL to prevent a possible lockout that even JOCKlife.com in 2008 predicted was a possibility.

The league would want everyone to think otherwise as they advised that the players focus on bargaining with the owners rather than soliciting Congress for their assistance.

NFL players are hoping that it does not result in a lockout because Mawae mentioned that New York Giants co-owner John Mara said to the New York Times that both sides are not heading in the same direction regarding negotiations for a new deal.

The league owners challenge the existing agreement which would have the players receiving about 60 percent of revenues. In the owner’s opinion, that favors the players more than the people who pay the checks.

“We like the agreement the way it is,” said Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. Randle El told The Associated Press that the owners “want us to go back to the ’70s.” Back then, the league did not have a free agency system.

The lockout would affect more than the players. The NFL is more than just about sports; it is a business. A lockout would affect different people within every organization and externally like corporate sponsors, businesses in the community, networks etc. Its more than just the owner and players battling, its everyone involved as well.

The players figure that the lawmakers have leverage over the league including the antitrust exemption for broadcasting contracts that made the league a powerhouse in America.

“I want Congress to review why they gave the exemption,” said Houston Texans guard Chester Pitts. “Right now, the NFL has that much oversight. We want more.”

Everyone would hope that both parties can come to a mutual agreement. The league office would prefer less lobbying and more talks and negotiations instead.

But when players do not feel they are getting a fair share in a product that they give everything too, they should go elsewhere to get some help.

“A judgment in favor of the NFL could severely damage the system that we’ve had in place for the last 20-something years,” Mawae said.