With Special Master Stephen Burbank ruling last week that NFL owners will be able to pocket the network payments in the event of a lockout, the union intends to appeal the outcome to Judge David Doty, who presides over the current CBA because it originally was the settlement agreement of the antitrust lawsuit filed following the failed strike of 1987.
With the two sides apparently committed to working out a new labor deal by March 4, the union wants a ruling by March 3.
Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the NFLPA wants Doty to apply an “up” or “down” to Burbank’s decision before the expiration of the current labor deal. The fact that, as Mullen points out, Doty has scheduled a hearing for February 24 suggests that Doty intends to comply.
Whether Doty will agree with the union’s position remains to be seen. But if he does, Jerry Jones will have a very hard time making mortgage payments without his cut of $4 billion in TV money.
Since the NFL and the union have, for now, ceased their public sniping, we’ll visit with Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal on today’s PFT Live to discuss this and other aspects of the labor situation.