Seemingly would allow IBM, Apple, Microsoft & HP to gang together to lockout all of their programmers to force them to take a pay cut. Regardless of whether they belong to unions.

No treu. There is still arena football, the UFL and the CFL up here in Canada. If the players think they are being treated like “slaves” in the NFL, they are free to peddle their talents at any of the other leagues that might want to employ them – just like the rest of us do in the real world.

Additionally, it is absurd to think that the NFL is forcing anyone to take a “pay cut”. The salary cap will continue to increase along with league revenues, albeit at a slower rate than we have seen in previous years. A new CBA with “less” going to the players isn’t going to force everyone to renegotiate their current contract. It will mean that when renegotiation does happen, they may not get quite the exorbitant increases they may think they deserve. As such, they are free to execise point one above and seek employment somewhere else – just like the rest of us.

BTW: I have completely forgotten about the lockout since the CFL has got underway. I am starting to think about buying season tickets for the Argos next season. This whole lockout/decertification is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Besides, I am still enjoying football. Go Argos!

You raise an important fact that could complicate any attempt by Kessler to annul this year’s draft.

The ultimate question will be whether a decertified union that has never represented the rookies has or ever had the legal authority to force the rookies to abide the restrictions on their personal and economic interests that the draft imposes on them. In the absence of a new CBA and a player’s union, I think there is a strong argument that requiring rookies to play for the team that drafted them, or not play at all, would violate antitrust laws.

Is the draft the only thing that would have to go if the league were to run without an anti-trust exemption?

I mean the only thing the fans give a rats azz about?

If so, it would be an acceptable loss to avoid future lockouts & endless CBA negotiation.

Von Miller just went to the head of the line in the Brady lawsuit.

Seemingly would allow IBM, Apple, Microsoft & HP to gang together to lockout all of their programmers to force them to take a pay cut. Regardless of whether they belong to unions.

Would allow Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda to lockout all car workers to force them to lower pay.

Would allow any gang of businesses in any industry to lock out employess in a way that would prevent those employees from getting a job in another company.

And would not allow the workers in either of these examples to request protection from the courts.

The players should appeal this odd decision to the Supreme Court.

The case is there to be made that the consititutional freedoms of the players are being overridden.

_____________________
when things get VERY COMPLICATION, I start to drink!

I have been a staunch owner supporter and have constantly pointed out this websites bias. That being said, if they do drop the hammer, there will be no season. They need to ignore this and build off of recent progress.

Actually all the league would do is appeal Judge Nelsons ruling to the Eight Circuit and get it reversed. Simple. smh.
__________________
No, not so simple. The court has said that because there were labor issues before the decertification, the Norris-LaGuardia Act is in effect. That means the court can’t force them to end the lockout. The went on to say that rookies and FAs, on the other hand, were not employed by the NFL, and as such were not a part of the existing labor issues. That, in turn, means that they can’t be locked out. So, if Judge Nelson has another hearing and issues a ruling specific to rookies and FAs, the teams could be forced to start signing them without knowing exactly what the new CBA will look like (and even worse, w/out a new rookie scale in place). Refusing to do so would bring about collusion charges that there would be no defense for. Furthermore, the appeals court refused to issue an opinion about whether the labor exemption continues to exist after decertification (which the court never challenged), or if it does for how long. So, the owners can’t be forced to end the lockout, but they can be held liable for it in an anti-trust case. That decision, could of course again be appealed, and considering the appeals court’s refusal to discuss the issue who knows what would happen there. Making the issue even more complicated, the lawsuit isn’t a union (or even trade association) action. It’s a lawsuit with a small number of named plaintiffs. So, even if other players cracked under the lack of income, all it would take would be for the plaintiffs to continue the case to ruin the owners day (and the vast majority of named plaintiffs are financially secure). No, the easiest and best solution is for the owners and players to continue doing what they’re doing and get this deal done. If the negotiations were to fall apart, simple is the last thing this situation will be.

There is still plenty of time to end this labor dispute before the vacation of some mediator.

Things are looking up.

The Finger hasn’t said anything, which means it must be good news and a deal is close!

Can’t wait for kickoff!!

Hint: (Sarcasm. Big Time !)

Haven’t you figured out yet that the lockout was a sham? The owners can’t stand the thought of losing even 1 cent of preseason rev; they never intended to enforce it into the season. The owners blinked first and now they are settling their squabble over $150 million as quickly as they can, because they start losing preseason rev at $250 million per week very quickly.

Sorry that you don’t get your lockout hammer bro, but the rest of us that actually watch and like football will have a real season and I’m fired up about it; I might even be dumb enough to buy season tickets. Go Niners!

All the more reason for both sides to keep working at the negotiations today.

Thanks, bros.

Contrary to the fears of some, this ruling will have no adverse impact on a timely settlement of this labor dispute, which I hope and expect will occur next week.

———————————

I’m sure Judge Nelson is anxious to make another embarrassing ruling that would have a good chance to get overturned.

I think you are most likely reading to much into this looking for anything positive for the players.

The lockout was so stupid…the owners never intended to enforce it into the preseason and the players don’t draw checks until Week 1, so how was it going to be effective…wtf?

At any rate, I’m glad. I would expect a deal announcement on Monday and free agency to start next week. Can’t wait…Niners better get some!

Were they going to kickoff in July this season or still wait until Sept?

You are not missing any football. Save the belly aching for when something is actually lost.