Judge Recuses Himself In NFL Collusion Case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge in Minneapolis who has been the arbiter of NFL labor matters for more than two decades has recused himself from ruling on the latest dispute between NFL owners and the players' union.

U.S. District Judge David Doty was to hear arguments Oct. 1 in the union's lawsuit against the NFL's 32 teams for collusion, alleging they enforced a secret $123 million salary cap per club in 2010 when there was no cap.

Doty wrote in his order that the parties deserve a new examination of the issues by a judge who has not already expressed an opinion on the dispute.

Doty earlier rejected the union's claim, saying the collective bargaining agreement had expired. A federal appeals court reversed that decision in June and ordered Doty to hold a new hearing.