Lockout judge thinks players have "strong case"

[Ja Rhule]

Yeap, No ruling for 2 weeks... Then... NFL owners will file for an appeal... Add another 4-8 weeks to that... So, about 3 more months before anything, atleast! NFL can file for an appeal many times and let NFL players funds dryout. NFL players then will have no choice but to come crawlling back.

Don't be surprised if this things will drag all the way to March of next year. Supreme Court, baby!

[Mr. Scot]

The players really wanted that ruling to come before the draft.

It still may, but looks like it won't be very long before.

[panthers55]

The judge has to decide first if she even has jurisdiction. With the NLRB involved she could wait until they decide if the NFLPA could decertify or not before ruling anything. The easy choice for her would be mediation which is something she has done before. That would make the players actually negotiate in good faith given their ace in the hole is no longer guaranteed to go their way. The NFl would be incented to get it resolved as well in case they would lose.

[blackcatgrowl]

Seems its done. No ruling for a couple of weeks.

Yep. Cited Link below:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f1d6c1/article/judge-to-take-couple-weeks-to-rule-on-lockout-dispute?module=breaking_news

Nelson said she will take the case "under advisement," and that it will take "a couple weeks" to rule. In the meantime, she suggested a continuation of negotiations in a federal court setting.

We can infer that she believes both sides probably have "Strong Cases" and she's going to have to look up case law and precedent to determine how she should rule, or if she even should rule and not defer to the NLRB.

This is actually a bad thing for football this fall. The longer the court drama plays out, the more likely those stadiums sit idle come August/September.

And this is probably what the NFL Owners want. They can starve the players back to the negotiation table and take the edge off their hubris. Having high dollar mansions and cars and no income will become a serious problem for millionaires before it becomes a problem for billionaires.

The players need to re-certify as soon as legally possible (or form a new union without Dumbass Smith), drop their lawsuits, and come back to the table in good faith.

[Anybodyhome]

No matter who the judge rules for because the loser will immediately file an appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and that will take 2-3 weeks to schedule, then the hearing, then another few weeks for a ruling.

[Highlandfire]

Florio points out that the NFL side is getting the bulk of the questions. Usually a bad sign in legal circles (link)

Florio is for the players and is reading into it what he wants to. The owners are in the right. They didn't lock the players out until after the Union left the table and decertified and said they are filing suit. It is the owners legal right to lock them out and they are right this is NOT anti trust, it is labor law.

[Highlandfire]

The judge has to decide first if she even has jurisdiction. With the NLRB involved she could wait until they decide if the NFLPA could decertify or not before ruling anything. The easy choice for her would be mediation which is something she has done before. That would make the players actually negotiate in good faith given their ace in the hole is no longer guaranteed to go their way. The NFl would be incented to get it resolved as well in case they would lose.

Letting the NLRB get a ruling in is nothing but stall tactics by the owners. They know the NLRB never rules in favor of companies so they will rule for the NFLPA although the FACTS say the NFLPA is in the wrong. Its just how it is.

That said the NFL will lock this bitch up in appeals for at least a year. they were prepared for it, they are willing to pay damages and have the money to sit for at least a year. when that year passes they will be allowed to use the 4 billion that Doty tied up and sit another year.

The players cant win.

[jpniner]

The players need to get on one knee, kiss the ring and thank the gracious owners for providing a great job and salary which is keeping them from flipping burgers instead.

[DaCityKats]

im sorry no side is in the right here. pretty sad it has to go to court to split $9 billion.

[Davis83]

Florio is for the players and is reading into it what he wants to. The owners are in the right. They didn't lock the players out until after the Union left the table and decertified and said they are filing suit. It is the owners legal right to lock them out and they are right this is NOT anti trust, it is labor law.

spot on! I think you see the judge wait 2 weeks and then order mediation - give 'em 2 weeks for that and then rule.

This puts pressure on both parties equally

both parties have to think about another month lost and if the ruling goes against you - then you're screwed worse by not getting in the season = lost wages. If ruling in your favor, then an appeal and again = lost season and wages.

Mediation order makes the most sense for the judge - it could be resolved without you having to make a decision that could change the sports world.

If goes against the owners, then i see the NFL folding and reforming under new name.

I can't understand how you have 32 separate teams that their whole purpose is to compete with each other - yet the players expect them to do that without "cooperation" and "acting in concert".

soooooo OK, I say we just schedule 16 games against Buffalo and crown ourselves champions? Cowboys and Skins have the deepest pockets, so they'll have all the big name players and they can just compete against themselves.

pooo on this crap