NFL Players Return to Work, Fighting in Court

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - The NFL unlocked its gates and opened its doors Friday, allowing players to get back to football for the first time in nearly two months.

Four days after a federal judge ended the 45-day lockout, dozens, if not hundreds, of players showed up at team headquarters, exchanging smiles and high-fives with their teammates and picking up playbooks from their coaches. Tony Romo and Jason Witten even did some sprints on a Dallas Cowboys practice field.

"From the players' standpoint, I think everybody is pleased we're not locked out anymore, especially the rookies," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said on CNBC, his first public comments about the dispute since he became one of the 10 plaintiffs in a federal antitrust lawsuit still pending against the NFL.

Players from Seattle to New York warmly greeted a little bit of normalcy in the most unusual offseason in league history, fully aware that it might not last very long.

Read more: http://sports.excite.com/news/04292011/v1517.html

[Renew Deal]

1. How are they going to keep Peyton Hillis out of the gym now?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3adR3PqN1uk/TVmE-yhsrgI/AAAAAAAAtms/imFjaKiR6EU/s1600/Peyton+Hillis+%25287%2529.jpg

[jmowreader]

2. There's only one problem with this...

They're letting the Detroit Lions go back to work too.

Other than that, this is great news.

[Upton]

3. Lockout back on..

The NFL lockout went back into effect Friday after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis granted the owners' side a "stay" of Judge Susan Nelson's lockout injunction.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/42825449/ns/sports-player_news/

[Gman]

4. They can't lock out a union that doesn't exist

the move to decert was brilliant. Once they recertify, they'll reform the NFLPA.