NFL owners ask court to dismiss anti-trust suit
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — National Football League owners have asked a federal judge to dismiss an anti-trust lawsuit against them by NFL players, but a hearing in the case will not come…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — National Football League owners have asked a federal judge to dismiss an anti-trust lawsuit against them by NFL players, but a hearing in the case will not come before the planned season opener.US District Judge Susan Richard Nelson scheduled a hearing on the NFL's request for September 12, four days after the reigning Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are set to host New Orleans in the NFL regular-season opener.Billionaire owners and millionaire players have been unable to agree on how to divide $9.1 billion in annual revenues from the most popular US spectator sport, setting the stage for the first shutdown of the NFL since 1987.Players decertified their union and filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL in March. The club owners responded by locking out players and shutting down league activities.Owners and players conducted three days of secret talks last weeks, but there has been no sign either side has budged enough to raise hopes of a deal before next month's scheduled start of pre-season training camps.Teams typically play pre-season games in August to analyze talent and decide upon final roster selections but teams have been unable to sign free agents, make trades or talk with draft choices, much less have players and coaches look at offensive and defensive strategy, since they are not allowed such contact.The lawsuit was filed by several NFL players, including star quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. They claim a lockout is illegal because the union has been disbanded.Players won an early victory when Nelson ordered an end to the lockout in April. NFL however appealed to the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, and the three-judge panel voted to put Nelson's order on hold while they studied the matter.A hearing was conducted last Friday in St. Louis but even as the judges began considering the next step in a lengthy legal fight, they urged the club owners and players to resume negotiations toward a settlement.Appeals court judge Kerm
last modification 2011-06-07 04:30:43
Add comment