Report: Judge Nelson Rules to Lift Lockout

We finally have some labor news to report after negotiations mediated by Judge Arthur Boylan were put on hold until May 16. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has reported U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson has issued the NFL Players Association the preliminary injunction against the NFL’s lockout of the players.

According to his report, the owners will seek an immediate stay of the implementation of the decision. ProFootballTalk.com reports that the owners will appeal the ruling.

The website also obtained a copy of Judge Nelson’s ruling. Here is one piece:

“Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records and preceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

“1. The Brad Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction [Doc. No. 2] is GRANTED;

“2. The Eller Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction (Doc. No. 58] is MOOT; and

“3. The lockout is enjoined.”

The NFL has since responded:

“We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe that federal labor laws bars injunctions in labor disputes. 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.”

As far as a ruling on a stay of injunction, ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack said believes it will take less than a week for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to make a decision.

We will keep you updated on any new developments.