Case Study 10.1 -White V. National Football League

1. The arbitrator was deciding whether a "bye week" in the NFL counted as a regular-season game under the CBA for free agency purposes. Is this the type of matter that should be arbitrated?

2. According to the collective bargaining agreement what do players do during the bye week in the NFL? Do they practice? Even though there is no game, are they still performing the obligations of their contract?

3. When interpreting whether a bye week means a game, does it matter when the bye week was actually instituted in the NFL? Why might that be important?