Court extends NFL lockout pending June 3 appeal

Detroit Lions, including guard Stephen Peterman, front, quarterback Matthew Stafford, in white, stretch during a workout Monday, May 16, 2011, at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Mich. About 30 Detroit players showed up for the workout. NFL players aren't allowed to use team facilities because of the lockout, so the Lions did conditioning work and a few drills in an indoor football facility at the school. / Daniel Mears,AP Photo/The Detroit News

The NFL has won another round in the court fight with its players.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday decided that the league's lockout of players should stay in place until a full appeal is heard on whether it is legal. The 2-1 decision mirrored the panel's earlier decision granting a temporary stay - including a lengthy dissent from the same judge.

The appellate court said it believed the NFL has proven it will "likely will suffer some degree of irreparable harm without a stay."

A June 3 hearing is scheduled to hear arguments on the legality of the lockout. Basically, nothing will change for eager, locked-out NFL players now until after the June 3rd hearing.

NFLPA head: Players "resent being lied to"

While the ruling was made, the players and owners met under a court-ordered, federally mediated negotiating session to resolve their differences, ESPN reports, adding that it was the fifth day of talks in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, but the first since April 20.

In a report, ESPN writes: "At the same time, U.S. District Judge David Doty is determining the fate of some $4 billion in broadcast revenue he previously ruled was unfairly secured by the NFL in the last round of contract extensions with the networks to use as leverage in the form of lockout insurance. The players have asked Doty to put that money in escrow and for more than $707 million in damages, too."

ESPN Insider's Adam Schefter tweeted after the verdict: "Owners now have the leverage. This is a complete win for the owners. Players are in trouble, based on judge's words in this ruling."

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I'm so hoping they don't have a season this year.Yes, to truly show there fans where there heart is,the money.Look,if they really were being treated like slave labor I could understand.If the owners were going bankrupt,okay.These guys are fighting over billions,and they want you the fans to feel there pain.When this is all over you know who the real loser are?The fans,be ready for higher tickets and everthing else that go with these greedy SOB.One thing to the dumb taxpayers of Minnsota,you are being force to pay for stadium who owner is going to make 100 of millions this year?I'm so glad I quit being pro sport fan back when MLB went on strike.Suckers.