Judge Nelson declines Stay

[visajets]

CANT WAIT!

Who knew all this crap would just make April more exciting!

CANT WAIT...................where did I hear that before..

[faba]

The NFL told its 32 teams Thursday that, pending a ruling on its request that a "temporary stay" of the lower court's ruling lifting the lockout be granted, it should open their facilities to players at 8 a.m. ET on Friday.

Teams may distribute playbooks to players and begin OTA practices. The NFL said it would advise its teams on Friday rules for players transactions including the start of the "league year" when those moves can begin to take place.

The clerk of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis said on Thursday that a ruling on the NFL's request for a rare so-called "temporary stay" of the lower court's ruling could come as early as Thursday afternoon.

Clerk Michael E. Gans told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that a three-judge panel is expected to be formed Thursday afternoon and that panel will consider the evidence already filed with the appeals court -- a temporary stay request from the league and a reply letter from a lawyer representing NFL players -- and issue a ruling from the bench.

"That is the next step in this process," Gans said. "They will take a look at the evidence already filed and determine if a temporary stay is granted sometime [Thursday]."

If the temporary stay is granted, the lockout will be back in place. And Thursday's NFL draft can continue with the league closed for transactions, such as player trades and free agency. If not, the lockout will be lifted until the appeals court hears the NFL's next request: a motion for a full stay while the appeal process winds its way through the 8th Circuit.

Gans said the NFL has asked the appeals court for three things: a temporary stay, which may be decided Thursday; a motion for a full stay while the appeal of Judge Susan Richard Nelson's ruling is heard; and, an expedited appeal of her ruling.

All three of those motions are designed to accelerate the appeals process so that the league can determine whether it will be open for business or not while the appeal is heard.

NFL players asked the 8th Circuit on Thursday to ignore the league's request to put the lockout back in place. A letter sent to the appeals court Thursday by players' attorneys says there is no risk of harm to the league and promised a full rebuttal by midday Friday. Until then, the players asked the appeals court to keep things status quo.

Attorneys for the players said it was no time to wait. They also sent a memo telling players and their agents that the decision lifting the lockout "is in full, immediate force."

"It is our view that the NFL and the clubs will be in contempt of court if they do not comply with the order," the memo said.

The The NFL Players Association, now a trade group and not a union, said in its memo that Nelson's ruling leaves little to interpretation.

"We believe the 2011 League Year now has to begin; the Clubs must open their facilities to allow players to work out, meet with coaches and otherwise perform their jobs; and the NFL and the Clubs cannot collectively continue to refuse to deal with players," NFLPA attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and James Quinn wrote in the memo.

Early Thursday afternoon, the NFL sent a response to the NFLPA's letter to the 8th Circuit, saying the players' memo asking that the league's request that a temporary stay should not be granted validates the NFL's request for a stay in the first place.

"The Brady plaintiffs cannot have it both ways. They cannot threaten immediate contempt sanctions against the NFL Defendants, while at the same time asking this Court to delay addressing the NFL Defendants' request for the temporary stay. Indeed, the plaintiffs' threat of contempt only underscores the need for a temporary stay," NFL attorney Paul D. Clement wrote.

Ten Denver Broncos players visited their facility and met with the team president for about 10 minutes and were told that "everything is on hold" as the NFL figures out how to proceed. Washington linebacker Lorenzo Alexander showed up at Redskins headquarters for a third straight day and was told by his general manager he couldn't work out because the team is "waiting for the appeals process."

Also, Bears tight end Greg Olsen, defensive tackle Matt Toeaina and kicker Robbie Gould arrived at Halas Hall on Thursday and were once again denied permission to use the team's weight room.

The weird holding pattern arrived just a few hours before the NFL draft, one of the league's signature events. The first round was set for Thursday night, with later rounds Friday and Saturday.

Information from ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson and The Associated Press was used in this report.

[dbatesman]

The honoraria practically bestow themselves. Preposterous Hat-Wearing Migdet-in-Chief De Smith and the like. But wouldn't that make Von Miller Susie Derkins?

I figured the owners were Susie, which I suppose would make the draftees Binky Betsy, but maybe I'm overthinking it.

[Maxman]

You should be afraid.

This is shaking out just as it started... it is a game of chicken... the players got a victory but it is not enough to end it... for that one side will need to take a paycut.

Not how I see it. The owners just lost.

The new season is here and the players seem pretty content to play by the old rules. The owners were the ones that didn't like that arrangement. Players seem pretty happy right now.

[kelticwizard]

+1

There is also a misconception about what the players are doing in the Brady v. NFL antitrust case.

The players are saying that there can't be any salary cap, restricted free agency, a draft, etc. without a collective bargaining agreement. Since there isn't one (as the owners opted out of the last one) then there can't be any such rules.

In other words, the players (and the Courts) have taken a big dump on the owners' position (which has, surprisingly, been bought by some fans) that as employers they can do anything they want.

No, the owners can't. If the owners want a draft, free agency rules and a salary cap then they have to BARGAIN for it.

I'm stunned that so many fans don't understand this point or the issues involved.

Are you saying that, as of right now, any college player, regardless of how highly regarded, can sign with any team that offers him the most money?

[PatriotReign37]

It sucks. Goodell took one of the fans' High Holy Days and shredded it because some dipsh*t TV exec pointed out that Glee puts up good numbers on weeknights. If he thinks there are millions of casual NFL fans just frothing at the mouth to find out which franchise ****s itself by drafting Cam Newton's entourage on a weeknight then he's dumber than he looks. In years past, it was an event--you'd load up your buddies, go to a bar, and spend the afternoon watching the first round and stick around--maybe--for the second round. Now? F*ck it. I'll let my Yahoo Sports App stay up for me.

Word Shane

Goodell has forked the draft all up. Draft day parties are no more. What an arsehole.