With Friday's breakdown in talks between the NFL and the players' association, the fight for a 2011 football season could soon shift back to the Minneapolis courtroom of U.S. District Judge David Doty. It has not been friendly ground for the league and its lawyers over the past 20 years.
Doty's most recent ruling - early last week - followed the trend. The judge overturned the decision of a special master that allowed the league to keep a $4 billion "war chest."
Collecting that money was a breach of the league's contract with its players, Doty ruled. He ordered a hearing to determine what damages to award the players. The union has asked Doty to order that money be set in escrow and not allow the NFL to use it to essentially finance the expected lockout of players. It is believed that if the league cannot use that money, it loses a huge bit of leverage in its dealings with the union.
Doty has not yet scheduled the hearing, but that could take a month or more.
The players filed an antitrust lawsuit Friday in hopes of avoiding a lockout. A 1992 suit, in the name of the late Reggie White, is what led to the current system of free agency for players.
JAMES WALSH
