[CRedskinsRule]

Hoop,

It's clear you don't like the blog citations, but in this instance I don't see how they are different than referencing any other media source, from which numerous lawsuits have been filed. The one reference that is perhaps shady is the one which references an unnamed source close to situation, but the NFLPA also says, in so many words that additional discovery and interviews would shed more light, and they cite specific quotes from Mara, that lends credence to the unnamed sources.

Collusion is probably one of the hardest things to prove, since by it's very nature everyone involved has taken the vow of silence from the very beginning of the act, and it is in their interest to maintain that silence. You even said that the Skins and Boys are unlikely to aid the NFLPA in there search, and those two teams have the most reason to be angry and help. But the compelling interest of all 32 teams is to give nothing away especially in court. For that reason, I think the judge may be more willing to allow some level of probing and questioning, the waiver not withstanding, and with minimal hard evidence up front. The rationale being, if there's nothing there than it won't hurt, and if there is, then the breadcrumbs were legitimate.

- separately -

The worst thing about this, is that with no expediting factors, it's going to drag on for years... (eg the starcaps case)

a lawyer I know pointed out that, unlike the lockout cases, if the waiver gets waived then there is no expedited appeal for that and the digging could commence. I thought that was interesting.