National Football League

Judge sets hearing for labor case

Published Apr. 26, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A federal judge in Minneapolis has scheduled a Wednesday morning hearing for NFL players to respond to the league's request for a stay of Monday's order that lifted the lockout, Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday.

The move means the NFL will be left in legal limbo for at least another day, as some players trickle into team facilities but are still barred from working out.

Nelson gave the players until Wednesday at 9:00am CT to formally respond to the NFL's request for an immediate stay of her injunction that ended the lockout.

The NFL is seeking a stay pending an appeal of the ruling to the Eighth Circuit. The stay, if granted by Nelson or the Court of Appeals, would re-institute the lockout while the appeals process plays out.

"We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes," the NFL said in a statement Monday.

"We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal."

Nelson's injunction came as a result of an antitrust lawsuit filed last month by Tom Brady and nine other players, who argued the lockout was causing irreparable financial harm.