Players Say NFL Must Open for Business

(Newsroom America) -- After a federal judge ruled earlier this week that the NFL must end its lockout, players say the league must now open for business, even though owners are planning to appeal the decision.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that teams weren't conducting football operations, despite a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson denying the league's request to stay her decision to invalidate the lockout.

Players are insisting that means they can resume their job responsibilities because the league should now be open.

"The decision denying the stay is once again very strong, and rejected all of the NFL's arguments," said a memo to players and agents from James Quinn, the class counsel for players in their antitrust suit against the NFL, and his co-counsel, Jeffrey Kessler. "Accordingly, the order ending the lockout is in full, immediate force."

The league has filed an appeal with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, but Quinn said that isn't grounds to ignore Nelson's order and keep operations closed.

"Unless and until such a (stay) request is granted, however, we believe the 2011 league Year now has to begin," said the memo. "The clubs must open their facilities to allow players to work out, meet with coaches and otherwise perform their jobs; and the NFL and the clubs cannot collectively continue to refuse to deal with players."

Some players have been turned away from facilities after expecting teams to be conducting operations following the order.

© 2010 Newsroom America.

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