Given the fact the Vikings have a rookie quarterback, there had to be members of the organization hoping the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis would side with the players and force teams back to work for the short term by ending the NFL lockout.

That didn't happen.

A stay has been granted that will keep things status quo until a full appeal is heard and decided upon. Here is a copy of today's ruling. There will be plenty of dates thrown around about when a decision might be made on the full appeal but I'm not sure anybody can say with certainty when that really will happen.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson lifted the lockout on April 25, meaning that players had the right to return to work. But the 8th Circuit granted a temporary stay that went into effect during the second day of the NFL draft. It was then expected that a ruling would come quickly that would either grant a permanent stay or side with Nelson and force teams to open their doors.

However, the ruling on the permanent stay did not come until today. The next significant court date will be June 3 when the 8th Circuit will hear the owners' appeal of Nelson's ruling.

This isn't good for the Vikings considering it likely will mean the end of any hope of an offseason program for new coach Leslie Frazier's team, one that includes first-round pick Christian Ponder.