By Mike Max, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — To understand the NFL lockout, you have to understand the history of the NFL and what the athletes are fighting for.

Who better to break down the details than four Minnesota star athletes from the Purple People Eater era: Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, Alan Page and Gary Larsen.

WCCO-TV gathered three of the Purple People Eaters in person and one over the phone for a round table discussion of the NFL lockout and how they feel about the league.

After the talk, one thing was certain: they, and other NFL alumni, want to have a say in the upcoming bargaining.

To watch parts of the discussion, see the video above.