NFL locks get picked

Posted by Mark Daniels on

Federal Judge Susan Nelson in Minneapolis Monday ruled for the players asking for an injunction to end the NFL lockout.  The decision brought immediate reaction from the league which asked for a stay of the ruling and NFL lawyers filed an appeal to the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.  The ruling will create confusing times in the NFL until that appeal is heard.  Players can show up at stadiums or training facilities and work out.  Coaches, in theory, could be allowed to conduct off-season practices, free agents could shop their wares.  The league issued a statement that said if players do arrive at facilities, they should be treated "curteously". Some agents are urging players to show up because they might have roster bonuses come due if they're on a roster and working out for a week or in some cases, a single day.  Ben Leber, the player representative for the Minnesota Vikings said it's going to be the Wild West for a few days.   A member of the Packers, quoted anonymously in thre Green Bay Press Gazette, said his agent adivsed him to take a wait and see approach.  If the 8th Circuit upholds Judge Nelson's ruling, the league could either appeal again to the US Supreme Court, or revert to business as usual.  Without a collective bargaining agreement in place, it's probable the labor rules would revert to the 2010 season in which there was no salary cap and unrestricted free agency would only apply to players with at least 6 years of service.  That would keep players like Darryn Colledge and James Jones restricted and only Cullen Jenkins able to hit the open market.   What about rookie salaries?  Health and pension benefits? Mini-Camps? OTA's?  Since the union decertified to take their case to court, could collective bargaining even take place?  Leber was right, it's wild right now in the NFL, even with the locks temporarily taken back down.

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