Pro football hasnt quite fallen into a great abyss with the players union decertifying, then the league imposing a lockout. Authentic Brandon Marshall Jersey . The end of winter is nowhere near as critical a time for the NFL as the end of summer, when the real games begin. That doesnt mean Fridays collapse of mediated talks is unimportant. The impasse could be tremendously disruptive, leaving hundreds of free agents in limbo, draft picks unsigned, team personnel on furloughs or worse, and coaches taking pay cuts. Oh yeah, it also jeopardizes the 2011 season. "I think eventually well be back at the table," New York Giants owner John Mara said, "but unfortunately now we will have to go through this process where we are in court." Specifically U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, where star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees were among 10 players named as plaintiffs in an antitrust lawsuit filed against the league. The case could drag on for weeks, perhaps all the way up to the draft at the end of April. The draft is the only piece of business the league still has scheduled; it was protected under the collective bargaining agreement that expired Friday at midnight. Individual workouts of college prospects will be held, but after the draft, no negotiations with players and their agents can be conducted. Nor can undrafted rookies be signed. With the NFL at a dead stop, all those players whose contracts have run out wont have any bidders. Every player will pay his own health insurance. Should they want to practice together, they are on their own to organize and pay for such workouts -- away from team facilities. "Its essential to get together, you have to keep the continuity," Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "The time at the facility, you wont have that time, so you have to work on your craft when you can, be ready to go." Off-season workouts at team venues normally start late in March -- theyre dubbed "voluntary," but coaches expect participation -- and they wont be happening. The owners meeting, set for March 20-24 in New Orleans, establishes rules changes and the course of league business, but how much will the labour woes affect that? Plenty. March and early April are when many sponsors and corporate partners renew their deals with the NFL. So although there wont be any hits dealt out in practices for a while, the leagues marketing ledger could take some nasty blows. The players and owners are far apart on how to split the $9 billion in revenue; implementation of an 18-game regular season, which the players adamantly oppose, citing safety issues; pension and health benefits. They were a bit closer on a rookie wage scale when talks fell apart. With all that in mind, wouldnt it be wise for both sides to get back together, whether with federal mediator George Cohen in Washington or elsewhere? It could happen, but first the owners and players must get past the public low blows traded by the sides as the second extension of the labour pact approached the end. Comments such as this from NFL lead negotiator Jeff Pash: "I think we know where the (unions) commitment was. It was a commitment to litigate, as we said all along. And thats unfortunate because all it means is the eventual resolution of this business dispute is going to be delayed." Or this from NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith: "I will tell you this: Any business where two partners dont trust each other, any business where one party says, You need to do X, Y and Z because I told you, is a business that is not only not run well, it is a business that can never be as successful as it can be." The NFL has been pretty successful recently, with record TV ratings and unmatched popularity. Fridays developments will test that success. Lewis Jerseys . Darryl Boyce and Phil Kessel each had a goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won the first two games of a four-game road trip and four of their last five overall. James Reimer stopped 29-of-31 shots in the win. Jake Long Jersey . Jack Hillen was taken to the hospital after being struck in the face by a hard shot from Washingtons Alex Ovechkin in the first period of the Capitals 7-2 win at the Nassau Coliseum. Bears Jerseys . On Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back had his prayers answered when he learned his eight-year-old half-brother Sebastian had survived Tuesdays earthquake. Buffalo Bills C.J. Spiller Jersey . James Binsfeld led a 1-2 finish in para mens giant slalom, Christy Campbell took gold in the para womens 2.5-kilometre sit-ski cross-country event and Margarita Gorbounova won the para womens 2. Joe Haden Jersey . Phyllip Taylor netted 14 points for Idaho State (9-17), which got 11 points apiece from Deividas Busma and Kenny McGowen. Devon Peltier posted 32 points in defeat for Cal State Fullerton (9-18). Movements in the world of hockey Monday: National Hockey League MINNESOTA WILD-Recalled G Anton Khudobin from Houston (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS-Recalled F Corey Locke from Hartford (AHL). OTTAWA SENATORS-Signed F Bobby Butler to a two-year contract. Recalled D Brian Lee from Binghamton (AHL). PHOENIX COYOTES-Re-signed F Paul Bissonnette to a two-year contract. American Hockey League AHL-Fined Abbotsford coach Jim Playfair an unddisclosed amount for his actions during a March 27 game. Browns Donte Stallworth Jersey. NORFOLK ADMIRALS-Signed G Tyler Sims and D Matt Case. Released G Zane Kalemba. SYRACUSE CRUNCH-Signed LW John Kurtz. Announced C Tomas Kana has been recalled by Columbus (NHL). ECHL ELMIRA JACKALS-Announced RW Keegan Dansereau has been assigned to the team by Binghamton (AHL). Released F Rusty Masters. VICTORIA SALMON KINGS-Announced D Taylor Ellington has been reassigned to Manitoba (AHL). ' ' '