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#Post#: 3572--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: Pekin Date: April 25, 2011, 6:11 pm
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This isn't over but sure doesn't look good for the NFL and
football in general. If the players get their way football as
we know it is gone. It will be just like baseball.
#Post#: 3575--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: yapper Date: April 25, 2011, 6:17 pm
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Meanwhile, since the NFL is again at least temporarily open for
business, the smart GMs are busting ass right now to get some
player trades done before the draft. The timing of this ruling
-- three days before the draft instead of waiting till
afterwards -- is huge and may result in at least a few teams'
re-writing their draft boards between now and then depending on
what trades go down.
#Post#: 3581--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: WshflThinking Date: April 25, 2011, 6:37 pm
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Well the Bears better have been prepared. We need a crapload of
help.
#Post#: 3586--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: WshflThinking Date: April 25, 2011, 6:50 pm
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Judge ends lockout; owners to appealEmail Print Comments725
Associated Press
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson has granted NFL
players their motion for a preliminary injunction, therefore
lifting the lockout
MINNEAPOLIS -- In this epic NFL game, the players have an early
lead on the owners.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered an immediate
end to the lockout Monday, siding with the players in their
fight with the owners over how to divide the $9 billion
business.
Judge Susan Nelson's Report
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered an end to the
NFL lockout Monday. Read the ruling here. Report (PDF)
Nelson granted a request for a preliminary injunction to lift
the two-month lockout, saying she was swayed by the players'
argument that the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 is
hurting their careers.
The plaintiffs "have made a strong showing that allowing the
League to continue their 'lockout' is presently inflicting, and
will continue to inflict, irreparable harm upon them,
particularly when weighed against the lack of any real injury
that would be imposed on the NFL by issuing the preliminary
injunction," Nelson wrote.
The NFL said it would ask Nelson to put her order on hold with a
stay so it can pursue an expedited appeal to the 8th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
"We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor
disputes," the league said. "We are confident that the Eighth
Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will
inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which
would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We
can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations
toward that goal."
Said Jim Quinn, an attorney for the players: "They better act
quickly, because as of right now there's no stay and,
presumably, players could sign with teams. There are no
guidelines as of right now, so they have to put something in
place quickly.
"It is their league: They can put in whatever they decide. If
they put in something not restrictive to the players and fair to
the players, that is fine. If not, we will litigate."
If the injunction is upheld, the NFL must resume business,
although under what guidelines is uncertain.
NFL Nation
Our eight bloggers help you keep up with all the latest NFL
news division by divison. Blog
It could invoke the 2010 rules for free agency, meaning players
would need six seasons of service before becoming unrestricted
free agents when their contracts expire; previously, it was four
years. The requirement for unrestricted free agents would be
four years rather than the three years before 2010. There also
was no salary cap in 2010, meaning teams could spend as much --
or as little -- as they wanted.
Also, the NFL would need to determine what or if offseason
workouts can be held while the appeal is being heard.
Clearly, it's complicated.
The NFL has even argued to Nelson that stopping the lockout
would open all 32 teams up to additional antitrust claims simply
for working together to solve the labor dispute. Antitrust
claims carry triple damages for any harm proven, meaning
hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.
At the hearing before Nelson on April 6, the crux of the
argument from NFL lawyer David Boies was that the court
shouldn't have control of a conflict that grew out of a labor
dispute. Boies even tried to lighten the mood by telling her,
"No lawyer ever wants to stand in front of a judge and say, 'You
don't have jurisdiction.'"
The owners, in support of their argument, pointed to their
pending unfair labor charge filed with the National Labor
Relations Board that the players didn't negotiate in good faith.
Nelson disagreed -- and threw cold water on that hope, too.
"Although the NFL has filed a charge here, the NLRB has yet to
issue any complaint and, in this court's considered judgment, it
is likely that the Board will dismiss the charge," she wrote in
her ruling.
Owners imposed the lockout after talks broke down March 11 and
the players disbanded their union. A group of players filed the
injunction request along with a class-action antitrust lawsuit
against the league.
Nelson rejected the league's prediction that the NLRB would see
the union's breakup as temporary, thus supporting the assertion
that the dissolution was purely a tactical move.
"There is no legal support for any requirement that a disclaimer
be permanent," Nelson wrote. "Employees have the right not only
to organize as a union but also to refrain from such
representation and, as relevant here, to 'de-unionize.'"
Nelson also stated that the so-called decertification was
legitimate because of "serious consequences" for the players.
"This court need not resolve the debate about whether their
motive was influenced by the expectation of this litigation,"
she wrote, calling that question irrelevant as long as the union
followed through on the breakup.
Nelson heard arguments on the injunction at a hearing on April 6
and ordered the two sides to resume mediation while she was
considering her decision. The owners and players, who failed to
reach consensus after 16 days of mediated talks earlier this
year, met over four days with a federal magistrate but did not
announce any progress on solving the impasse.
They are not scheduled to meet again until May 16, four days
after another judge holds a hearing on whether players should
get damages in their related fight with owners over some $4
billion in broadcast revenue.
And now comes Nelson's decision to lift the injunction.
"[T]he public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract
principles of the antitrust laws, as professional football
involves many layers of tangible economic impact, ranging from
broadcast revenues down to concessions sales," she wrote. "And,
of course, the public interest represented by the fans of
professional football -- who have a strong investment in the
2011 season -- is an intangible interest that weighs against the
lockout. In short, this particular employment dispute is far
from a purely private argument over compensation."
With appeals expected, the fight seems likely to drag on through
the spring and, possibly, into the summer. The closer it gets to
August, when training camps and the preseason get into full
swing, the more likely it becomes that regular season games will
be lost.
The NFL is going forward with the draft, which begins Thursday
night.
Dolphins alternate player representative John Denney said he
didn't think the ruling was the end of the dispute.
"Right now we got what we wanted, but it may be temporary," he
said. "We'll have to let the judicial process play out."
And the antitrust lawsuit is pending, too, with lead plaintiffs
that include MVP quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The
suit has been combined with two other similar claims from
retirees, former players and rookies-to-be, with Hall of Fame
defensive end Carl Eller the lead plaintiff in that group.
Osi Umenyiora, the New York Giants defensive end and one of the
plaintiffs, called the ruling a "win for the players and for the
fans" in a statement.
"The lockout is bad for everyone, and players will continue to
fight it," Umenyiora said. "We hope that this will bring us one
step closer to playing the game we love."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
#Post#: 3641--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: Phill23 Date: April 25, 2011, 9:00 pm
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Good news for the players. Glad to hear the judge and the
ruling siding with the players. Now the owners will have to
negotiate with the players fairly without lockouts and other
stuff they tried pulling.
Show the playes the books and let's get this show on the road.
#Post#: 3684--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: WshflThinking Date: April 26, 2011, 6:54 am
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Thats what I say. Open the books and get a deal done. Lets have
football this year.
#Post#: 3698--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: 46 Date: April 26, 2011, 9:24 am
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Guys, honestly you can cook books six ways to Sunday. I'm
wanting to see bank statements showing the flow of funds. Just
depreciation alone on one of those stadiums can be structrured
to as not so show a nickel of profit from now unitl doomsday.
Get the bank statements. And yes, she did stab the prick, he
deserved it.
#Post#: 3706--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: yapper Date: April 26, 2011, 10:09 am
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At least half of these NFL players wouldn't have even passed
their college entrance exams and/or graduated if not for their
value to their schools on the football field. Even if the owners
open their books... seriously, how many of the players are even
going to know what they're seeing?
#Post#: 3711--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: packrat Date: April 26, 2011, 10:26 am
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Hey, my employer never showed me the books when I was hired.
Who in hell is running the NFL, the owners or the players?
Some employees are never happy and there are always a whole
gaggle of lawyers happy to muddy the waters for a big fee.
I hope that the owners win this skirmish decisively, even if it
means "plan b" players AGAIN.
#Post#: 3747--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around the NFL (4.12.11 - 9.10.15)
By: WshflThinking Date: April 26, 2011, 12:47 pm
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[quote author=yapper link=topic=43.msg3706#msg3706
date=1303830566]
At least half of these NFL players wouldn't have even passed
their college entrance exams and/or graduated if not for their
value to their schools on the football field. Even if the owners
open their books... seriously, how many of the players are even
going to know what they're seeing?
[/quote]
You mean the players dont have access to lawyers that are
experts in the financial field? I believe they can have access
to experts to evaluate the books properly
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