NFL Lockout: Still No Decision on Owners' Request From Judges

For one glorious day two weeks ago, the lockout was lifted by Judge Susan Nelson. However, the next day, the owners were granted a stay from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The NFL then asked the judges for an extended stay, but no decision has been made.

That was two weeks ago. The expected time for a decision on the NFL's request has come and gone on Friday, guaranteeing that the lockout will last at least until Monday.

What the NFL wants is a stay of Judge Nelson's decision in favor of the players until their appeal, which is scheduled for June 3. If granted, the lockout will extend until June 3 and possibly beyond. If it is not granted, the lockout could be lifted until there is a decision made after the June 3 appeal date. 

Even though it seems that this one decision is taking an extremely long time to make, experts don't think that this is anything out of the ordinary.

"There's nothing unusual about the way the 8th Circuit is behaving,'' University of Illinois law professor Michael LeRoy said. "They sort things by level of emergency, but they don't sit there and say, 'Oh my gosh, the football season's in peril.' ''

So, it could be possible, that on Monday, the Eight Circuit Judges deny the NFL an extended stay. If that happens, the lockout will be lifted once again, and this time, for longer than a day. 

Or, things could go the other way. The NFL could be granted a stay and, if that is the case, the lockout will likely last until at least through the middle of June.

Let's hope that the judges are as big of football fans as we are.