The NFL lockout could continue for at least a couple of more weeks.
The two sides completed their preliminary injunction hearing Wednesday in front of Judge Susan Nelson in St. Paul, Minn., and Nelson concluded the session by saying she would need a couple of weeks to make her decision, according to reporters who attended the hearing. The hearing lasted about six hours, including breaks.
In the meantime, Nelson encouraged the two sides to return to mediation in federal court, over which Nelson could also preside.
The players filed an injunction against the owners to block the lockout, but since Nelson did not make an official ruling Wednesday, the lockout will continue.
The two sides can still work toward a new CBA in mediation sessions — Nelson has been praised as a federal mediator, so the sessions should be viewed as a good thing — and their genuine sincerity during mediation could play a factor in Nelson’s final ruling. Therefore, any senseless posturing might only hurt their standing in the court’s eyes.
If Nelson eventually rules in favor of the players (blocking the lockout and forcing the league to reopen for business) or the owners (keeping the lockout intact until a new CBA is reached), the losing side will have the opportunity to appeal the decision in front of a panel of three federal judges.
There is still no telling what this means for the 2011 regular season, but at this point, it would be nearly impossible for the NFL to begin free agency before the draft, which begins April 28.
