NFL: No Legal Grounds to Halt Lockout

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVE CAMPBELL

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The NFL has asked a federal judge to keep its lockout in place, saying there are no legal grounds to stop it and accusing the players of trying to manipulate the law.

The NFL filed its arguments Monday in federal court in St. Paul, Minn.

Tom Brady, Drew Brees and seven other NFL players are plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that was filed March 11 after the union dissolved and NFL owners instituted the lockout after the two sides failed to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The players also asked for an injunction to stop the lockout.

Read more: http://sports.excite.com/news/03212011/v4486.html

[no limit]

1. I will be pissed if we don't have football this year. I need my FF fix already.

[underpants]

2. BS Fox News (Goodell) PR set the story first news cycle nonsense

The NFL has never won a suit of any consequence other than the Clarrett case.

They have been owned in court on several occassions by Al Davis. They lost (only $4) in the suit brought by the USFL. They lose everything in court.

The NFL is trying to declare victory and this will surely be parroted by they spokespeople on ESPN.

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. Millionaires versus Billionaires: Who cares?

[Missy Vixen]

4. It's the NFL's attempt to bust the union

Anyone who supports collective bargaining should support the NFLPA's efforts to stay alive against owners that have made it clear they do not bargain fairly.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. At this point there is no NFLPA...they voluntarily disbanded

[Missy Vixen]

14. Thanks for the update

They're now a trade association; they will re-certify when a CBA has been reached.

Again: This is nothing but union busting. Considering the fact the NFL has had their asses handed to them in court over the past several years, the union will be recertifying sometime in April.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. You presume facts not yet evident

The track record is that the NFL loses, but there are no guarantees in court. Also there has been a dissident faction inside the NFLPA for some time. If this gets ugly, they will have some say in what happens.

This is not exactly working people up against the man either.

[Missy Vixen]

20. You presume "facts not yet evident" as well

The NFL has lost every court case for the past several years. They were terrified of Judge Doty for good reason. I don't have a lot of info about the judge hearing the case on April 6, but I did find it interesting they're going in front of a female this time.

>Also there has been a dissident faction inside the NFLPA for some time.<

The "dissident faction" consists of Antonio Cromartie. If the "dissident faction" was so powerful, they would have been heard from long before now.

>This is not exactly working people up against the man either.<

Based on what? Perhaps you might explain. Is it because half the league makes under $1.9 million a year? The average career of a NFL player is three and a half seasons. MOST retire due to injury, while billionaire owners clean up year after year. The only injuries they have to worry about might be a paper cut.

NFL players are dealing with the same management mentality any other worker is - owners who believe that calling NFL players "partners" but not offering pertinent financial information is acceptable, owners who do not guarantee 100% of player salaries or health insurance after five years out of the league, owners who will cut or trade any player at any time if it improves their bottom line.

[SnakeEyes]

6. I support collective bargaining

But I just dont feel sympathy for millionaires bargaining for more. Collective bargaining is for the little guy.

[Missy Vixen]

15. Nice to know you don't approve

Did you feel the same way about the air traffic controllers?

[LanternWaste]

10. Anyone who supports the Unions...

"Who cares?"

Anyone who supports Unions... I'd imagine we all want to see Union members succeed and achieve financial goals, regardless of whether that success is beyond or below our own standards of living. :shrug:

[October]

18. +1 /nt

[CrossChris]

21. B/c the millionaires are the workers who sacrifice their bodies---and this will be used

to explain labor relations to the country. For many people, this will be the only way they study labor relations. America is getting a primer on why we shouldn't have unions, and the NFL owners are leading the way.

[Possumpoint]

7. Won't Hurt Me One Bit

If there's no football this fall. I don't care for professional sports at all. I'd rather play then watch.

[Omaha Steve]

16. We have a DUer with a daughter that pays for college with her income on football Sundays

Think about the thousands of others who need the work in bad times. Or do you not care about common people either?

[tcaudilllg]

8. There's collective bargaining, and then their's collective bargaining. n/t

[GodlessBiker]

9. "accusing the players of trying to manipulate the law." Isn't that what lawyers are supposed to do?

[PuppyBismark]

11. Lost to everyone, it is our money they are fighting about

Where are the Billions of dollars coming from that the NFL and the players are fighting about? It is coming from us, who have to pay the exorbitant tickets prices, pay the cable and satellite providers and pay the extra for products that advertise and pay the networks for games. I believe there is just too much money here and none of us who are paying the bills have said anything.

Once again, corporate Americas is ripping off the American people.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[christx30]

13. In that case

you have the right to boycott going to games or watching it on TV, to show your disgust with the high ticket prices and what is going on. When it comes to public unions, you don't have that luxury.

[Skink]

19. It's the main reason I don't have cable.

Although with the government issue set top box you can watch games on Sundays.

[Fool Count]

12. What do they mean "no legal ground"?

I am sure there must be some UN Security Council resolution to justify that.