"The NFL clubs have been notified that we have requested from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals a stay of the preliminary injunction issued late Monday afternoon by the Federal District Court. Pending further guidance from the Eighth Circuit, we believe it is appropriate for clubs to take additional steps in response to the preliminary injunction. The clubs were informed of the steps below that will be effective on Friday at 8 am ET following tonight’s first round of the NFL Draft. Clubs are free to contact players immediately to advise them of the hours that the facility will be open for their use, to schedule medical and rehabilitation activity, and to arrange meetings with coaches or related activity, such as film study or classroom work. Players will be permitted to use club facilities for physical examinations, rehabilitation and medical treatment, as scheduled by the club. Clubs will be permitted to distribute playbooks, game film and other similar materials to players. Coaches may meet with players for the purpose of discussing any materials distributed to players under item 2 above, as well as the club’s off-season workout program, its schedule of mini-camps, Organized Team Activities (“OTAs”), and other similar matters. Voluntary off-season workout programs, including OTAs and classroom instruction, may begin subject to the rules in Article XXXV of the 2006 CBA and Appendix L. Participating players will be paid $130 per day, provided the player fulfills the club’s reasonable off-season workout requirements. Such workouts will count toward the requirements of any off-season workout bonus in the player’s contract. On days during which no official off-season workouts or OTAs are scheduled under item 4 above, nothing shall prevent the club from permitting any player to use the club facility to work out on his own on a voluntary, unpaid basis during normal business hours, or such other hours as may be set by the club, provided: (i) there is no participation or supervision by any coach, trainer or other club personnel; and (ii) the club has first verified that the player has an existing medical insurance policy in place. Players without such personal coverage should not be permitted to work out at the club facility on an unsupervised basis under this item 5, but may do so under item 4 above. Unsupervised workouts will not count toward the requirements of any off-season workout bonus in the player’s contract. This item 5 will apply both prior to and after the commencement of the club’s official off-season workout program. Mandatory and voluntary mini-camps may begin subject to the rules in Article XXXVI of the 2006 CBA. The league office will promptly make arrangements to resume counseling, rehabilitation and treatment activities in connection with the substances of abuse and steroid programs. We will advise clubs as to when and on what basis testing will commence. Players may participate in club-sponsored charitable and community relations events. With respect to player transactions (such as signings, trades of player contracts, terminations, tryouts, etc.), we plan to distribute to all clubs, likely tomorrow, a comprehensive set of procedures governing such transactions. This will include the timing for the commencement of the 2011 League Year, free agent signings and other customary player transactions." http://nfllabor.com/2011/04/28/nfl-statement-on-post-injunction-operations/ Hallelujah!! Praise Revis!
Mike Francessa just said the NFL is officially back in business, starting friday morning. Players can talk to coaches, use falicities, etc. Free Agency is rumored to begin Monday.
No I didn't my bad. I can't believe its over, the whole thing was ridicolous. I think the Judge knocked some sence into the owners. The owners seriously needed to realize just how greedy they were acting. The current system in place was fun, and its going to stay that way.
"AdamSchefter Adam Schefter Bottom line: No free-agent signings during draft, no player trades during draft, only pick trades during draft. Free agency could start Mon." That would be fantastic, too bad they couldn't start today. It'll be tough for the Jets to move up with such little options.
being reported all over the place that teams can trade players tomorrow. does anybody have a list of what we tendered holmes, cro, and brad smith at? would like to see if there is a realistic possibility somebody else signs them, and what draft picks the jets could get.
i dont see anything occuring that looks like good news. basically their is no union so there can be no lockout... but can anyone answer me this, what happens with no union in pro football? the league gets sued... the draft and everything about the nfl as of right now is bogus... it may or may not lead to a deal getting done sooner than later but i can assure you this its going to be interesting. i surely wouldnt be waving the flag of victory for the fans at this point. speaking of which the fans had a great opportunity to say fuck you to the nfl owners by not showing up at the draft, as usual the fans failed miserably at sending a message, apparently the league is right. they can treat everyone like a douche and they will just keep coming back for more.
You think this is over? There's no union, no CBA, and a pending appeal. The CoA will probably rush a decision on the request made to IT for a stay. Free agency MAY start on Monday (or a stay could be granted), but the fight is far from over.
Let's just all save our excitement until after the weekend. The NFL is trying to delay until the CoA decides whether to issue a stay. Just because Nelson denied one doesn't mean the CoA will, and all indications have been that the CoA would likely side with the owners. The league knows it can easily shut things back down after handing out playbooks, etc. If it's forced to start Free Agency on Monday, that's a lot harder to back down from. They know they can't delay things past the end of the draft, but you can be damn sure their lawyers are pressing the issue to the front of the docket and trying to get a quick decision from the CoA to hold the lockout until it can hear the appeal. In other words, don't expect free agency Monday. Hope for it.
Completely over.... eh, not really. But I had a feeling the lockout was going to be lifted before the draft. I figured the lockout would be lifted, and they'd return to negotiating. But it seems as of right now the best thing to do is go back to 2010 rules and continue negotiating throughout the entire season and scare everyone in march at the zero hour like every professional sport in existence. A new CBA is far away.
EVERYONE knew the lockout would be lifted before the draft. There was no question with Judge Nelson. The question was and still is whether the CoA issues a stay before Monday. That's the only way the Players Union returns to negotiating right now. Otherwise, they really have no incentive to negotiate immediately other than the RFA issue.
The NFL can institute new rules regardless of what the courts say, no? So they could basically force the players to strike if things don't go their way in court, and really put the players under pressure.
I hope this is wrong. How unbelievably disappointing that will be. How the hell the owners managed to drag this out for a week is amazing.
Stay back on. Sigh. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/report-owners-get-stay-of-injunction-lockout-back-on/
