Updated Title: 8th Circuit Court Grants Stay, Lockout Reinstated

[sportscurmudgeon]

The player-led workouts have received press attention. What we will know later on - - assuming this lockout continues at least through mid-June - - is just how hard the players are pushing themselves without coaches overseeing the workouts.

I suspect there will be an epidemic of pulled hamstrings early in the season as guys who did not work as hard as they should have go through an abbreviated exhibition season and training camp.

I suspect that rookies will do more than expected because their youth and "low-mileage-bodies" will give them a physical edge later in the season.

I suspect that rookie QBs will be VERY confused.

I suspect that there will be a lot of teams who will be very unhappy with some of the Free Agents they sign when they see how far from peak condition those players have allowed themselves to get.

The 2011 season will probably not be a pretty one - - just as these negotiations and legal wranglings have not been pretty.

BTW the appeals court will hear arguments on the case on 3 June. That is a Friday. Unless the lawyers for one side in the case totally sh*t the bed, it is unlikely that the court will offer its decision before the end of the following week (10 June). Therefore, even if that court proceeding is the end of the legal wrangling - - and I seriously doubt that it will be - - the lockout will probably go on until at least mid-June.

If the owners win there - - or if there is an appeal by whomever loses to have the case reheard by the 8th Circuit Court sitting en banc - - the lockout will probably be in place through late-July/mid-August.