8th Circuit Courts Rules Lockout Legal

[rockywoj]

Associated Press

Published: July 8, 2011 at 10:53 a.m.

ST. LOUIS -- The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out a judge's order lifting the NFL lockout, handing the league a key victory.

The appellate court issued its decision Friday, even as the league and its locked-out players continue negotiations intended to strike a new collective bargaining agreement and start the 2011 season on time. The first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 7, less than a month away.

The appellate court ruled on an April 25 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who put the lockout on hold after players argued they were suffering irreparable harm. The appeals court put that order on hold and its final decision said Nelson ignored federal law in reaching her decision.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

[rockywoj]

Apparently they also ruled that the NFL cannot lockout unsigned rookies and free agents, as there is no employer / employee relationship. I would figure that is pretty much moot, though, being that there would be no obligation to grant unsigned rookies or FAs any access to employer facilities for the same reason, there is not employer / employee relationship.

[Peyton and Eli fan]

Wish they had waited a few days. No need for right now for either side to be handed leverage.

[rockywoj]

Well, if anything, I think this will make it MORE likely that a settlement will soon be reached, as it "should" make the players a little more receptive to settling.

[Peytongirl]

Indeed! The players need a bit of motivation...this is ridiculous. *sigh*

[Rick Dean]

The word was a deal was about done and this surprised both sides. will now take longer...

[everybodysgotone]

The word was a deal was about done and this surprised both sides. will now take longer...

That ^ is ridiculous. If anything it will expedite resolution, and the way the 8th would rule was no surprise to the owners, NFLPA, or anyone else that knows even the basics of how things work. The ruling was correct because there are no injunctions in labor disputes under federal law - exactly what was discussed on these boards months ago. Anyone considering themselves an NFL fan should be doing backflips and ordering up their "The 8th Circuit APP Court Rules" T-shirts. PATENT PENDING ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.