Williams and Clarret may be out of Draft

The NFL has done it again. Regardless of which side of this argument you side with, the NFL again has used it's vast political power and influence to get an expedited appeal hearing. Even the NFL lawyer presenting the appeal was quoted as saying, ".. it's quite unusual for a court to impose such a quick schedule." Hhhmmmm?
Also, what a coincidence that the appeal will be heard on April 19th and 20th. Just days before the April 24th Draft. If the NFL wins this round of appeals it is by no means over, but it will block Williams and Clarret from participating in this years draft. Because there would be no time to get the appeal heard in the US Supreme court. The NFL must be in the pockets of these appeals court judges, because they are very confidant they will win this particular appeal.
To put this into perspective, it take six months to a year to have an appeal heard about important case matters like murders, rapes, child moleters, etc. But the NFL can get an expedited hearing about letting 19 and 20 year olds play football in a month.
Our justice system is for sale.
I hope for the Redskins this appeal is not successful. We need USC WR Williams there so more talent drops to our pick.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/nfl/03/30/banks.clarett/index.html

As much as we do want Williams up there to push KWII and ST our way, I would love to see that arrogant son-of-a-bitch Clarett get denied! That BS about not working out at the combine was very disappointing.

I really dont think Williams will make that much of a difference, if we stay at the #5 pick. I think Fitzgerld will be the only one picked before 5.

There is no doubt that the NFL is big and powerful. However saying they have legal clout is contradicted by the facts. Just about every time they are in a courtroom, they lose. Tell me the last major court case the NFL won...

The way to get an expedited hearing is to convince the court that some kind of irreparable harm would be done if the expedited hearing were not granted. If Clarett had lost, it would have been his lawyers asking for the expedited schedule because without an appeal he would miss out on the draft in april and he would never get back the year he would have to wait until next year's draft. Well, the NFL can use the same argument that without an appeal being heard there is the potential for irreparable harm to their draft system.

So the court will hear the case and it may or may not issue a ruling prior to the draft. If the NFL loses here, it can postpone the draft while it tries to appeal to the Supreme Court. Just becaue the draft is scheudled for april at the moment does not mean the NFL can't postpone it. And if Clarett loses, his lawyers will and for an injunction preventing the NFL from holding its draft until the Clarett side can seek an apeal in the Supreme Court.

This case is not over yet. And that has nothing at all to do with the NFL's "influence over the court system".

I'm still waiting to hear the last major court case the NFL won...

However saying they have legal clout is contradicted by the facts....
I'm still waiting to hear the last major court case the NFL won...

Ha--HA
Hey Sportscurmudgeon your so called "facts" are very wrong!
Here is a very big case the NFL won on appeal:
On March 27th , 1996, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a lower court when NFL Players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league and won $30.3 million in triple damages. But the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and later the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the award on the ground that multiple-employer groups are shielded from such lawsuits. They ruled the NFL is exempt from Anti-trust laws.

That is a major ruling saying the NFL is exempt from Anti-trust laws, wouldn't you say Mr. Facts- man?

Also to say the NFL got an expedited appeal hearing because they convinced the court that some kind of irreparable harm would be done to the game is a bunch crap. The earlier court case making 18 y.o. players draft eligible does not mean that any NFL team HAS to draft them. Each team can say these players are just not good enough to play in the NFL. The "FACT" that USC WR Williams will be drafted in the first top 6 picks blows the NFL's case out of the water. Some 19 and 20 year old players are ready and good enough to play in the NFL.
Are you still waiting?

I got one. Does anyone remember the guy who sued the Ravens for using a logo he designed and not paying him? Well, the Ravens/NFL (he sued both) lost on the issue of improper use BUT, as to damages, the guy got nothing b/c he failed to show that what he would have received if he had been hired by the Ravens/NFL to provide a logo.

BTW - the guy is my building's security guard.

Anyone else remember the famous NFL vs. USFL case where the USFL sued for like $1.7 billion but ended up with $3?

I think the USFL case they were awarded 1 dollar. And due to late fees and the NFL not paying it, the new figure ended up $3.17, which the USFL Commish never cashed, he just hung it on his wall.

Actually, in the USFL case, damages were assessed at $1.00, but, since it was an anti-monopoly trade case, the damages were trebled to $3.00 with interest of 17 cents.

Actually, in the USFL case, damages were assessed at $1.00, but, since it was an anti-monopoly trade case, the damages were trebled to $3.00 with interest of 17 cents.

That's right. It was trebled and now Chet Simmons (former USFL commissioner and ESPN CEO) has it hanging in his office

Welcome to the Warpath JoeRedskin!