Looks like the owners of National Football League franchises are the latest to benefit from the current pro-business atmosphere of America’s judicial system.
On Monday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to let NFL owners extend the players’ lockout. This would allow them to shut down operations while they appeal a lower court ruling that discontinued the lockout. The NFL immediately released a statement expressing their satisfaction with the ruling.
“It is now time to devote all of our energy to reaching a comprehensive agreement that will improve the game for the benefit of current and retired players, teams, and, most importantly, the fans,” read the statement. “This litigation has taken the parties away from the negotiating table where these issues should be resolved. We remain confident that the appellate court will determine that this is a labor dispute that should be governed by federal labor law. But the league and players, without further delay, should control their own destiny and decide the future of the NFL together through negotiation. “
NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash toed the party line during an appearance with the NFL Network. “What we need to be doing is focusing all of our attention on the process that’s going on here in this building with the assistance of the chief judge and in serious discussions with the players,” he said. “We have an opportunity to resolve this matter and get the game back on the field, and that really should be our exclusive focus. Not litigation, not stays, injunctions, things like that. That’s not going to solve anything. I’m glad that it came out the way it did, but it’s just one step in a process, and we need to focus on negotiation. That’s the only way we’re going to resolve this.”
Pash is also the lead negotiator for the NFL and undertook talks with player representatives that went nowhere on Tuesday. Attorneys from both sides said closed-door talks will resume on June 7 with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan presiding. Talks will occur four days after an appeals court hearing in St. Louis that will address the lockout’s legality.