NFL wins in appeals court

Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.

A federal appeals court threw the NFL back into chaos late Friday, putting a judge’s order lifting the lockout on hold.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis granted the league’s request for a temporary stay of the injunction issued Monday that ended the 45-day lockout. Now arguments will be heard on whether that order should be overturned altogether.

The decision came as the second round of the NFL draft was getting under way, and it came on the very day players were allowed to return to their teams’ facilities. Dozens if not hundreds of players happily met with coaches, worked out and got a peek at their playbooks for the first time.

Will teams lock their doors again? That wasn’t clear late Friday.

“Our attorneys will review the decision, and we will advise the clubs as soon as possible on the next steps,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Some teams already were operating under the assumption that the lockout would be reinstated. The Vikings spent all Friday trying to get their first-round draft pick, quarterback Christian Ponder, up to speed.

“When it was not a lockout, they were allowed to spend time here to get [playbooks],” vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said. “Now that the lockout’s back in, he’ll probably be leaving here shortly.”

New Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak said he was disappointed.

“As coaches we just want to get to work and get the players in the building and get going forward. Today was a positive day in that regard,” he said. “It was nice having the guys in and being able to see some of the guys who are in town.”

The 2-1 decision from a panel of the 8th Circuit was issued by Judges Steven Colloton, Kermit Bye and Duane Benton. It included a lengthy dissent from Bye, who suggested temporary stays should be issued only in emergencies.