A federal judge gave professional football players a significant victory Monday, granting an injunction to stop the N.F.L.’s six-week lockout Monday.
Judge Susan Richard Nelson of United States District Court did not stay her decision, sending the N.F.L scrambling to seek a stay from the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to prevent the league from having to open for business immediately.
If the stay is not granted, the N.F.L. will have to put rules in place allowing players to return to work and free agency to open within days, creating a flurry of activity similar to the normal operations of an off-season. Teams will be allowed to hold workouts with players, players will be permitted to meet with trainers to rehabilitate injuries and coaches to study game film.
Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/sports/football/26nfl.html?emc=na