The battle continues and it seems the players have just raised the stakes a little higher. As if one courtroom wasn't enough, the lockout battle made its way back to Minnesota today and into the courtroom of U.S. District Judge David Doty. We're already waiting for a ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on lifting the stay they granted the league after Judge Susan Nelson's ruling last month. Is that enough judges and courtrooms for ya? This is getting ridiculous. Scratch that, it's already exceeded ridiculous by a country mile.
Here's the rundown on today's episode of Gridiron Matlock:
The NFL's locked-out players asked a federal judge Thursday for at least $707 million in damages stemming from a dispute with the league over $4 billion in broadcast revenue.
U.S. District Judge David Doty took the request under advisement after a two-hour hearing that included arguments from attorneys for the league and the players. Such an award could amount to a huge piece of leverage in the players' fight with the NFL over the next collective bargaining agreement
Jeffrey Kessler, the lead attorney for the players, urged Doty to rule quickly because of the ongoing lockout. The players have argued the league can make it through the lockout in part because it illegally secured the $4 billion "war chest" by renegotiating TV contracts for 2011 that allows the league to get paid even if there are no games to televise.
Judge Doty began the hearing by expressing his displeasure that the differences between the league and the players have gone on this far:
"I'll be honest with you. I didn't think we would have this hearing, and I'm a bit disappointed we are having it," Doty said.
When will this end!?