Could EA lose NFL exclusivity?

For those who do not follow the NFL (but care enough to play EA's games), the NFL and the players' association are currently involved in a heated debate over salaries and players cuts. Unless a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, "the players either will be on strike or the owners will lock out players in 2008...the union likely will decertify, and antitrust rules will apply."

The quotation is key, as GamersReports speculates. According to them, the anti-trust rules would void the contract Electronic Arts has with the NFL--a major blow for EA, and one they have no control over. This means no more exclusive rights to NFL teams and players--other companies could then, theoretically, use the official player's names. Not a big deal to the casual sports fan, really, as Midway seems to be doing just fine without the NFL rights, but a big blow to the monopoly EA has been developing in the world of sports licensing.

Then again, there is always the chance that GamersReports is misinterpreting anti-trust laws. Being that the speculation is a worst-case scenario based upon a secondary interpreation of the legal system, consider this a rumor at best.

[Thanks, alvin]