Lockout lifted

The lockout was lifted by Judge Nelson yesterday. The NFL immediately, and unsurprisingly, appealed and requested that the lockout remained in place until the appeal has been ruled on. The NFLPA has told it's 'members' to attend work as usual from today. Conclusion, even more chaos than before, but first blood to the players?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f77c4f/article/judge-grants-players-injunction-nfl-appeals-ruling?module=HP_headlines

Good news, first step on the road to a CBA agreement, just a shame the players want to go back to work, but the owners are saying it's still in place until the appeal is ruled upon.

Well I don't know whether there is a consensus on whether players can or should go back. I've heard some player representatives saying they should and others say they shouldn't. It'll be interesting to see how many actually do later on today.

Owners will appeal for a a stay. Nothing will happen until then. If that fails then the NFL has to implement rules for the 2011 offseason which will then be challenged by the players as an antitrust issue.

Well, some players have showed up as a formality because they have language for workout bonuses in their contracts, so they can say they attempted to fulfill their part even though they were turned away today.

Technically, the players can sue the owners for contempt if they aren't allowed in. The owners will say there aren't any rules in place, so how can they allow any activity.

A lawyer who does work for ESPN was on the radio today -- when he looked at all the info filed on the players' behalf, he said months ago he thought they had a good case and expected an injunction. He said the judge has filed an 89 page decision basically laying out her reasoning to the 8th Circuit Court and citing law to support her ruling , so he thinks the NFL is fighting an uphill battle and there's a good chance there will be no stay of the injunction.

Basically, the NFL has gone to court 4 times and been kicked in the balls 4 times (that's including the American Needle antitrust case). Another judge has ruled against the NFL regarding anti-trust activity (taking more money upfront from TV deals to squirrel away for a lockout, in violation of the CBA) so they better hurry up and get this done because in anti-trust cases, the damages are tripled, though most believe if the two sides reach a deal, the claims for damages will be dropped.