NFL: Players can work out with teams Friday if.....

[.infamous]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6442393

The NFL told its 32 teams Thursday that, pending a ruling on its request that a "temporary stay" of the lower court's ruling lifting the lockout be granted, it should open their facilities to players at 8 a.m. ET on Friday.

Players will be allowed to meet with coaches and teams may distribute playbooks to players and begin OTA and minicamp practices, subject to rules from the last collective bargaining agreement. The NFL said on Friday it would advise its teams on rules for player transactions including the start of the "league year" when those moves can begin to take place.

The first round of the NFL's draft is set to take place Thursday night. Based on the league's statement, players will not be allowed to be traded during the first round.

"Pending further guidance from the [8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis], we believe it is appropriate for clubs to take additional steps in response to the preliminary injunction. ... Clubs are free to contact players immediately to advise them of the hours that the facility will be open for their use, to schedule medical and rehabilitation activity, and to arrange meetings with coaches or related activity, such as film study or classroom work," the NFL said in its statement to the media.

The clerk of the 8th Circuit said Thursday that a ruling on the NFL's request for a temporary stay could come as early as Thursday afternoon.

Clerk Michael E. Gans told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that a three-judge panel is expected to be formed Thursday afternoon and that panel will consider the evidence already filed with the appeals court -- a temporary stay request from the league and a reply letter from a lawyer representing NFL players -- and issue a ruling from the bench.

"That is the next step in this process," Gans said. "They will take a look at the evidence already filed and determine if a temporary stay is granted sometime [Thursday]."

If the temporary stay is granted, the lockout will be back in place. And Thursday's NFL draft can continue with the league closed for transactions, such as player trades and free agency. If not, the lockout will be lifted until the appeals court hears the NFL's next request: a motion for a full stay while the appeal process winds its way through the 8th Circuit.

Gans said the NFL has asked the appeals court for three things: a temporary stay, which may be decided Thursday; a motion for a full stay while the appeal of Judge Susan Richard Nelson's ruling is heard; and, an expedited appeal of her ruling.

All three of those motions are designed to accelerate the appeals process so that the league can determine whether it will be open for business or not while the appeal is heard.

NFL players asked the 8th Circuit on Thursday to ignore the league's request to put the lockout back in place. A letter sent to the appeals court Thursday by players' attorneys says there is no risk of harm to the league and promised a full rebuttal by midday Friday. Until then, the players asked the appeals court to keep things status quo.

Attorneys for the players said it was no time to wait. They also sent a memo telling players and their agents that the decision lifting the lockout "is in full, immediate force."

"It is our view that the NFL and the clubs will be in contempt of court if they do not comply with the order," the memo said.

The The NFL Players Association, now a trade group and not a union, said in its memo that Nelson's ruling leaves little to interpretation.

"We believe the 2011 League Year now has to begin; the Clubs must open their facilities to allow players to work out, meet with coaches and otherwise perform their jobs; and the NFL and the Clubs cannot collectively continue to refuse to deal with players," NFLPA attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and James Quinn wrote in the memo.

Early Thursday afternoon, the NFL sent a response to the NFLPA's letter to the 8th Circuit, saying the players' memo asking that the league's request that a temporary stay should not be granted validates the NFL's request for a stay in the first place.

"The Brady plaintiffs cannot have it both ways. They cannot threaten immediate contempt sanctions against the NFL Defendants, while at the same time asking this Court to delay addressing the NFL Defendants' request for the temporary stay. Indeed, the plaintiffs' threat of contempt only underscores the need for a temporary stay," NFL attorney Paul D. Clement wrote.

In their motion for a stay of U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson's order filed with the 8th Circuit, the league said her decision "blinks reality" and is "deeply flawed."

The NFL complained that the order has forced teams to "produce their collective product" and expose themselves to antitrust claims by the players -- claims that if held true can result in treble, or triple, damages. An antitrust lawsuit filed by Tom Brady, Drew Brees and other players is still pending before Nelson, but has not been heard.

The NFL argued that a stay is necessary to avoid irreparable harm to league operations, even quoting an unidentified NFLPA executive: "If the lockout is lifted and a stay isn't granted, it could be utter chaos."

Without a stay, the NFL said, it would be impossible to "unscramble the egg in terms of player transactions that would occur in the interim" before a ruling from the appeals court.

The league has proposed a specific timeline for the 8th Circuit appeal: a written opening argument due May 10, the same due for the players May 24, the NFL's reply due May 31 and a hearing after that "as soon as possible."

Such a timeline would mean the legal fight would stretch well into June, a month before training camps and only weeks before the first scheduled preseason game on Aug. 8.

In the 23-page motion, the league reiterated three main arguments it unsuccessfully made to Nelson: that she had no jurisdiction while a bad-faith negotiation charge against the players is pending with the National Labor Relations Board; that federal law prevents the court from overseeing cases stemming from labor disputes; and that it shouldn't be subject to antitrust claims with the collective bargaining deal barely expired.

The league said Nelson "brushed aside all three legal obstacles with the simple rationale that the NFLPA's unilateral disclaimer changes everything and renders the labor laws irrelevant." The NFL, citing comments by players Mike Vrabel and Derrick Mason, argued again that the union's breakup was only temporary and tactical and not permanent.

League rules have effectively been shelved since the collective bargaining agreement ended on March 11 and the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 began.

So tomorrow at 8 in the morning players will be allowed at their facilities. Also from what I've read is that players can get traded and players can get signed...not entirely sure though.

 

[Lake Louise]

So much going on and I know like what none of it means lol. It just sounds to me that they are just prolonging right now. It seems like the process is just gingerly going along right now.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

It's still confusing. I'm hearing guys can work out but that the decision still hasn't been totally made and the Lockout could be back in place later today.