NFL Lockout Reinstated, Owners Granted Stay

Via various tweets and other information that is breaking as of 6 p.m. CDT on Friday, it appears that two of the three judges on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals have granted a temporary stay of Judge Susan Nelson's lifting of the NFL owners' lockout of the players.

Clear as mud. Nevertheless, this appears to mean that the lockout is back on, and that the court will rule further later on the entire issue. Here are a couple of tweets from Maury Brown, who reports on sports business, that explain a bit better:

Obviously, more information will come out later and we here at SB Nation Chicago will keep you posted. Meanwhile, the NFL draft continues this evening; check this SB Nation Chicago StoryStream for complete updates.

NFL Lockout: Transactions Can't Be Made, But Business As Usual Otherwise On Friday

The NFL lockout still isn't over, but some important news came down Thursday that will allow players to return to business as usual beginning Friday morning at 7 a.m. following Thursday night's first round of the NFL draft.

The players can return to business as usual, but the front offices will have to continue to sit on their hands until a date is decided for the official beginning of the 2011 League Year (which should be sooner rather than later). Until then, no transactions -- signings, trades of player contracts, terminations, tryouts, etc. -- can be made.

Regardless, this seems to be inching fans closer toward the goal of having the 2011 NFL season begin on time considering the players are now allowed to do the following things (as summarized by SB Nation's Joel Thorman):

-Players will be allowed in the building for physicals, rehab and other medical treatment.

-Teams can hand out playbooks and game film to the players.

-Coaches can meet with players to discuss the playbooks, game film and the offseason schedule.

-Voluntary offseason workouts can begin and players will be eligible for workout bonuses in their contracts.

-On non-workout days, players can use the facility to work out on their own.

-Mandatory and voluntary minicamps can begin.

-Those in the NFL's substance abuse or steroid programs can begin receiving counseling, rehab and treatment.

-Players can begin participating in team-sponsored charitable events.

So while the NFL lockout isn't quite over, it does appear to be coming closer to an end.

NFL Lockout Lifted By Judge

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson today ruled against the NFL, and lifted the owner imposed lockout. The lockout was instituted March 11 by ownership after negotiations broke down in the dispute over the division of the league's nine billion dollars in revenue.

This ruling is considered a victory for players, at least initially. Judge Nelson's decision appears to agree with the players charges that the NFL is in violation of anti trust laws. The league is expected to file an appeal as early as Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile the mediation Judge Nelson ordered has been placed on hiatus until May 16. The parties are both engaged in preparations for the NFL draft, that begins this Thursday. The now decertified players union had sent out letters to prospective draftees, urging them not to attend the league's draft party, an annual event held in New York City's Radio City Music Hall. Without a collective bargaining agreement in place teams may draft players, but are not permitted to negotiate contracts.  

NFL Lockout: Second Round Of Mediations Begin, While Judge's Decision Looms

The meidation ordered by Judge Susan Nelson began this week, under her direction with mediator Judge Arthur Boylan. Boylan, an experienced mediator, has been given 18 days to try to bring the NFL and it's players to some kind of agreement. This mediation differs from the first round of talks in that this is forced mediation, and the focus of the talks, as well as the number of participants for each side, is mandated by the court. While the negotiations are taking place, Judge Nelson will still weighing her decision over the legality of the owners locking out the players.

Unfortunately, the anticipation of that ruling may be the main hindrance to progress in mediation. While Judge Nelson has clearly warned the parties that one side will lose big in litigation, both sides are already heavily invested in the process, and might be awaiting that decision to determine the strength of the bargaining position. The loser of the decision will appeal of course, but it will still be a fair indicator of where they stand in the proceedings. It would be in every ones best interest for Nelson to rule on the lockout quickly so the parties can commit to the current mediation, rather than continue to hedge their bets.

There has been a gag order directed by the court, so the only things the league and player representatives are telling us, is the well-worn assurances about how much they want to have a 2011 season. This round of mediation may go a long way in telling us how sincere they truly are.

Chicago Bears 2011 Preseason Schedule; Hall Of Fame Game, MNF Rematch

If there is a preseason in 2011, the Chicago Bears will kick it off against the St. Louis Rams on August 7, in the Hall Of Fame Game in Canton Ohio. Then they'll host the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field in Week 1. They will follow with a Monday Night Football matchup with the New York Giants in Week 2. You may remember that the Bears offense fared rather poorly against the Giants last year on Monday Night, handing Cutler his first loss, 10 sacks and a concussion in a 17-3 pounding that was difficult to watch.

Although, clearly not as difficult as playing it must have been.

You could say that the NFL has deemed the Chicago Bears ready for 'prime time', with their first two pre-season games being national broadcasts. Of course it remains to be seen if this 'schedule' is anything more than a tease, with little discernible progress being made towards ending the lockout.

The Bears would round out their pre-season with a Week 3 scrimmage in Tennessee with the Titans, and then a home appearance in Week 4, against the Cleveland Browns.

NFL Lockout: Judge Sends Parties Back To Mediation

On Monday, Judge Susan Nelson sent the NFL owners and players back to mediation, under the supervision of her court. This decision is considered favorable to players for a couple of reasons. Court watchers consider the U.S. District Court in Minnesota, 'home court' for players, as rulings in this venue have favored players in the past.

It also appears to be against the league's wishes to negotiate in this court. The NFL argued vehemently that this court was not the proper forum for these proceedings, at least until the National Labor Relations Board rules on the players union de-certifying.

The league's attorney, David Boies, also pushed to return mediation under George Cohen, where the parties failed to reach an agreement in March.

Judge Nelson addressed the league's position dismissively, making it clear that she felt her court was the proper venue, and her decisions would take precedence.She was also very careful to convey to both parties the risk of submitting to litigation ruling over mediation.The parties at present are both firmly entrenched in their positions, to the point where they disagree on what they are to negotiate. The league wants to negotiate collective bargaining agreements, while rthe players are focused on anti-trust settlements. 

NFL Lockout: Judge's Decision 'A Couple Of Weeks' Away

Yesterday U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson heard arguments form the NFL and players, on the legality of the owners lockout. She indicated that her ruling could take " A couple of weeks", and advised the parties to resume negotiations. She stated that, "both sides are at risk and this is a very good time for you to come back to the table."

Of course it appears unlikely that her advice will be taken. The sides have not met since March 11, and cannot even agree to terms for resuming negotiations. In fact so trenchant and polarized are the two parties, they even disagree on what Judge Nelson (insert your own Judd Nelson joke here) meant when she advised the parties to resume negotiations.

 David Boies, the NFL’s attorney said after court, "These kinds of matters ought to be settled at the collective bargaining table and not in a federal court,"

But players attorneys maintain the judge meant, "litigation settlement discussions, not collective bargaining."

Regardless of what side the judge's ruling favors, the other side is expected to file an immediate appeal.

The league also has a claim with the National Labor Relations Board to investigate their contention that the players union decertification was invalid. Boies suggested that the judge was obligated to wait on the conclusion of that investigation, before reaching her decision. A suggestion the judge seemed to dismiss.

SB Nation Chicago will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.

NFL Lockout: Brady V. NFL Goes To Court Today

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson will hear Brady v. NFL in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., today. The suit seeks an injunction against the NFL ownership's lockout of players. It argues that the lockout violates anti-trust laws, a strategy they were able to implement only after decertifying the players union. The league will counter that union decertifying was a sham, done only so the players could file anti-trust litigation.

While today's proceedings will certainly impact the outcome of the labor dispute, it's unlikely that anything will be immediately accomplished. It's not expected that the judge will make a bench ruling; it's more likely she'll take a week or more to come to a decision.

And if she lifts the injunction, the league will appeal and request the injunction remain in effect until the appeal is heard. It's also possible the judge could compel the parties to return to negotiations.

But all eyes will be on this case today, because the judge may indicate which arguments she finds most convincing. Her actions today will be studied by both sides, and used to make adjustments to their separate arguments.

The NFL and its players are still involved in gamesmanship, but from a spectator's point of view, it's no substitute for on-field action.

SB Nation Chicago will continue to follow this story, and provide you updates as they become available.