MINNEAPOLIS — The NFL’s lockout remains in place, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. That means the league likely won’t get back to business until at least next month — and maybe much longer than that.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the lockout can stay until a full appeal is heard on whether it is legal. That hearing is scheduled for June 3 in St. Louis, before the same panel that issued this 2-1 decision.
The appellate court said it believes the NFL has proven it “likely will suffer some degree of irreparable harm without a stay.” The decision came as NFL owners and players finished their latest round of court-ordered mediation behind closed doors.