Federal Judge Grants NFL Players' Request to Lift Lockout

[cyclone24 1,934]

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson has granted NFL players their motion for a preliminary injunction, therefore lifting the lockout that was imposed by owners on March 11, according to league and union sources.

 

The decision is expected to be posted publicly no later than 6 p.m. ET., sources said.

 

Neither side had an official reaction, pending the official posting by Judge Nelson but the NFL is expected to immediately request a stay of the ruling until it can make its arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which is headquartered in St. Louis but also has an office in St. Paul.

 

The immediate impact of the ruling on the status of an estimated 500 free agent players and other player transactions is uncertain. If the league does not get the court to stay the ruling pending an appeal, the league will have to open its doors for players. The NFL also will have to decide whether to impose a similar system that has been in place under the previous collective bargaining agreement that expired on March 11.

[nikki2200 4]

I don't understand any of this. Every time I read something I'm like wtf does that mean?

 

Is there gonna be a 2011 season or not?????

[cyclone24 1,934]

Well i think its good that SOMETHING is happening.

 

The NFL will appeal but unless im missing something.....if the court essentially tells the NFl to eff off......we're pretty much game on i think.

 

but someone smarter than me (which wont take much) might have better knowledge of it than i do.

[GettnHuge 2]

open their doors sure....but there is still no contract. so no games

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,433]

open their doors sure....but there is still no contract. so no games

 

Not quite. The NFL will appeal and ask for relief from the 8th Circuit, since the NFL is saying that the court is not supposed to interfere in labor negotiations. Probably, the 8th Circuit will tell the NFL that you have to open the doors and negotiate in good faith. Essentially, the owners will enact a system on their own and file some suits. Net, net is that there will be free agency and then there will be a 2011 season.

 

It will be an uncapped year, players need to have 6 years of experience before they are FA's, etc. The owners will hunker down, not really sign people to big contracts (wink, wink) and then there will be a season.

[IGotWorms 4,060]

I don't understand any of this. Every time I read something I'm like wtf does that mean?

 

Is there gonna be a 2011 season or not?????

 

The players' position at the bargaining table just got stronger. Ultimately it means little else than that. The decision will probably be stayed on appeal and this whole thing will (hopefully) get worked out before the appeal is ever decided.

[cyclone24 1,934]

The players' position at the bargaining table just got stronger. Ultimately it means little else than that. The decision will probably be stayed on appeal and this whole thing will (hopefully) get worked out before the appeal is ever decided.

 

 

 

Well not quite......sounds like this judge put in verbage that will make it very difficult for the owners to appeal this and win unless they came up with something new.

 

Lets hope.....good job judge whatshername.

[IGotWorms 4,060]

Well not quite......sounds like this judge put in verbage that will make it very difficult for the owners to appeal this and win unless they came up with something new.

 

Lets hope.....good job judge whatshername.

 

Appeal and win? Maybe not. But it's pretty easy to get a stay on a preliminary injunction pending appeal. Basically the only way you don't get a stay is if the court of appeals decides that there is absolutely no way you could possibly win.

[shovelheadt 71]

Sorry, I'm still of the opinion that the players will win nothing. They're already close to broke, getting arrested left and right, and have a walking turd representing them. Another gem from Smith:

 

"My hope is really is that there's somebody on the other side who loves football as much as our players and fans do,"

[Brad GLuckman 519]

I'd rather have a lost 2011 season than have the players win anything. Aren't they going for no free agency and no draft? I heard that somewhere.

 

If true that would ruin football.

[DanXIII 8]

I'd rather have a lost 2011 season than have the players win anything. Aren't they going for no free agency and no draft? I heard that somewhere.

 

They pretty much always ask for that and so far have never gotten it. I don't see that changing now.

[RLLD 4,275]

This is beginning to look the the ruin of football in the making. The players need to be stopped from killing the cash cow.....

[Meglamaniac 711]

It doesn't mean much, the doors will be open for players today but there will be no contact with Team personel and weightrooms/trainingrooms/rehab facilites will not be open.

 

All indications are that the stay will be awarded, if not then you would have free agency conducted in the interum using one set of rules and then free agency conducted after an agreement is in place, having two free agency policies will not work.

 

From everything I have read the 8the circuit court will hear and grant the appeal on the basis that the lower court had not power to make decisions regarded to labor negotiations which will of course prolong the legal wrangling.

 

Bottom line is that is both sides do not come to the table on the 16th with the mind set of getting a deal done the 2011 season is very much in jepordy.

[cyclone24 1,934]

Whoa.....am i missing something here? The OWNERS wanted to take another billion off the top and the PLAYERS are the greedy ones?

 

 

And there is a solid possibility that they dont get this stay....and that could be ruled on by thursday.....which would make the draft a complete circus. Which would be awesome

[Meglamaniac 711]

Whoa.....am i missing something here? The OWNERS wanted to take another billion off the top and the PLAYERS are the greedy ones?

 

 

And there is a solid possibility that they dont get this stay....and that could be ruled on by thursday.....which would make the draft a complete circus. Which would be awesome

 

Considering the overhead to run a NFL team/stadium/staff 2 billion removed from the till does not seem overly excessive.

 

Lets be frank, even if the stay is not granted teams are not going to engadge in contract talks with players and it is doubtful trades will be processed knowing that a contract can not be reached.

 

Not granting a stay would not work in the players favor, it would mean that the owners would have to come up with a set of ground rules to conduct business in the interum until an agreement can be completed and you can bet your last dollare that the interum rules will be heavily tilted toward the owners.

[RLLD 4,275]

Whoa.....am i missing something here? The OWNERS wanted to take another billion off the top and the PLAYERS are the greedy ones?

 

 

And there is a solid possibility that they dont get this stay....and that could be ruled on by thursday.....which would make the draft a complete circus. Which would be awesome

 

When you own a business, its is not unreasonable to expect to profit from your ownership. When you are a player making millions of dollars already, taking this to the courts instead of mediating with ownership and focking with the game is not cool....

[Frank M 181]

 

Lets be frank

 

I've been urging people to do that for years. The benefits to everybody would be enormous!

[RLLD 4,275]

I've been urging people to do that for years. The benefits to everybody would be enormous!

 

a world of ghey......yeah, sounds fun....

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,433]

It doesn't mean much, the doors will be open for players today but there will be no contact with Team personel and weightrooms/trainingrooms/rehab facilites will not be open.

 

All indications are that the stay will be awarded, if not then you would have free agency conducted in the interum using one set of rules and then free agency conducted after an agreement is in place, having two free agency policies will not work.

 

From everything I have read the 8the circuit court will hear and grant the appeal on the basis that the lower court had not power to make decisions regarded to labor negotiations which will of course prolong the legal wrangling.

 

Bottom line is that is both sides do not come to the table on the 16th with the mind set of getting a deal done the 2011 season is very much in jepordy.

 

You may want to read this article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_mccann/04/25/nfl.lockout/index.html

 

I don't know that the NFL is going to be able to dictate much unless they win their case entirely, not just a stay on the injunction.

[Drizzay 734]

So basically the NFLPA decertified, but the owners chose to "lock them out"? How can you enforce a lockout against a Union that doesn't exist?

 

It's odd that management WANTS its employees to be unionized.

[RLLD 4,275]

So basically the NFLPA decertified, but the owners chose to "lock them out"? How can you enforce a lockout against a Union that doesn't exist?

 

It's odd that management WANTS its employees to be unionized.

 

They do, they want to discuss the next labor contract, its actually easier this way. But they need to the union to talk, instead of trying to litigate everything.

[shovelheadt 71]

When you own a business, its is not unreasonable to expect to profit from your ownership. When you are a player making millions of dollars already, taking this to the courts instead of mediating with ownership and focking with the game is not cool....

 

Exactly, and that 2bil is split amongst 32 teams. If the players have an issue with it, they can go buy their own team.

[Frank M 181]

a world of ghey......yeah, sounds fun....

 

Open your mind to the possibilities.

[RLLD 4,275]

Open your mind to the possibilities.

 

Are you flirting with me?

[Meglamaniac 711]

So basically the NFLPA decertified, but the owners chose to "lock them out"? How can you enforce a lockout against a Union that doesn't exist?

 

It's odd that management WANTS its employees to be unionized.

The Owners basic stance is that the decertification was a sham, it only happened on paper and they are still conducting business as a union.

[Frank M 181]

Are you flirting with me?

 

 

No.

 

Yes

[Meglamaniac 711]

You may want to read this article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_mccann/04/25/nfl.lockout/index.html

 

I don't know that the NFL is going to be able to dictate much unless they win their case entirely, not just a stay on the injunction.

This is wishful thinking, without a union the players will be seeking contracts on thier own, the only way the NFL can violate antitrust laws is to limit players and teams from negotiating, they wont have to, the owners will stick togther until there is an agreement in place.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I think this is a bad thing as far as a 2011 season goes. The most likely way for this to end quickly was for the players to fold. This ruling bolsters them and will probably encourage them to keep the pedal to the metal.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,433]

This is wishful thinking, without a union the players will be seeking contracts on thier own, the only way the NFL can violate antitrust laws is to limit players and teams from negotiating, they wont have to, the owners will stick togther until there is an agreement in place.

I completely disagree. The owners are in a risky spot even if they do nothing. They have to conduct business as usual. Did you read the article?

[Bert 1,128]

I completely disagree. The owners are in a risky spot even if they do nothing. They have to conduct business as usual. Did you read the article?

 

This is what bothers me. These focktards can dislove and still operate as a union. If the owners do the same it violates anti trust laws. Players union destoying the game just like baseball.

[cyclone24 1,934]

In the end do we really care? Do i really care who makes what? Or what owner makes what?

 

No.

 

 

 

Im a fan....not an owner, not a player. I dont care if they make $100....or $100 million.

 

Just effing play.

[Meglamaniac 711]

I completely disagree. The owners are in a risky spot even if they do nothing. They have to conduct business as usual. Did you read the article?

Yes I read it and it's purley spectulation

[Phurfur 70]

In the end do we really care? Do i really care who makes what? Or what owner makes what?

 

No.

 

 

 

Im a fan....not an owner, not a player. I dont care if they make $100....or $100 million.

 

Just effing play.

 

 

because you are assuming it costs you nothing to watch a game.

[cyclone24 1,934]

because you are assuming it costs you nothing to watch a game.

 

 

Cable bill?

[Phurfur 70]

Cable bill?

 

Who do you think pays that multi-billion dollar advertising bill?

[cyclone24 1,934]

Who do you think pays that multi-billion dollar advertising bill?

 

 

I know where you are going...but give me a break. The cost to a fan thats just watching on tv is negligble at best.

[drobeski 3,061]

This is what bothers me. These focktards can dislove and still operate as a union. If the owners do the same it violates anti trust laws. Players union destoying the game just like baseball.

A union destroying something ? Get out of town !!!!

[cyclone24 1,934]

A union destroying something ? Get out of town !!!!

 

 

no way!! A union!!??

 

 

Will the owners now take their teams to Guadelajara and have migrant mexican field workers now play in the MFL (Mexican football league). And only pay them a fraction of the nfl salaries?

 

"Now starting for your Acapulco Saints....at quarterback........Miguel Hernandez!! Ohhhhh he throws another interception."

[MDC 7,652]

Whoa.....am i missing something here? The OWNERS wanted to take another billion off the top and the PLAYERS are the greedy ones?

 

Yes, but because FFT is the most knee-jerk partisan Republican forearm outside of that Hannity bored Mensa frequents, the employer is always right. Even when the owner is trying to take a larger share of the profits and refuses to budge after the employees have already made concessions.

 

 

I don't give a sh1t at all how a deal gets done - I just want football.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,433]

Yes I read it and it's purley spectulation

 

Did you not earlier say that "From everything I have read the 8the circuit court will hear and grant the appeal on the basis that the lower court had not power to make decisions regarded to labor negotiations which will of course prolong the legal wrangling."?

 

I believe that McCann is pretty knowledgeable in this area considering that he was involved in the Clarett case against the NFL and he has the following:

Michael McCann is a sports law professor and Sports Law Institute director at Vermont Law School and the distinguished visiting Hall of Fame Professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law. He also teaches a sports law and analytics reading group at Yale Law School

 

I am saying that I would value his speculation (which has been consistent with what I have heard from others today) a little higher than just the average sports talking head.