Your NFL Strike Update: It still ain't over (Rich vs. Rich--Day 1922)

Roger Goodell/Courtesy: File

By now most of you already know what happened around 6pm Monday. Judge Susan Nelson ruled for the NFLPA (not a union) and their...well, she ruled on several players from the NFLPA (not a union) who filed suit to force the NFL to open their doors.

They won.

For now.

Since then, there has been a mad scramble as people on both sides of the issue and the phalanx of reporters who follow them try and figure out what this all means. Because to tell the truth, nobody is sure.

Initially it was reported that there was going to be a massive flock of players heading to their team practice facilities this morning. Mostly so they can stake a claim to their workout bonuses.

However. Nothing immediately will be happening. The owners have already asked Judge Nelson for an appeal and they've sent their paperwork to the U.S 8th Circuit Court of Appeals asking for the same thing. It will delay the inevitable, though for how long, is what everyone is trying to figure out.

We'll get back to this.

In today's adventure, the Jolly Roger (Goodell) posted an op-ed piece in today's Wall Street Journal. In it, he moaned about the implications of Judge Nelson's decision. And while we agree with some of them (ie: no draft, no pay ceilings, no rules as a group and no benefits), there are a few that we don't.

Read Goodell's column from onlinewsj.com RIGHT HERE

Several of the issues the Jolly Roger bemoans, are issues that can be controlled, by the owners...if they so choose. But you and I both know they won't. He fears the competitive balance will be forever skewed...and he may be right. Though the owners themselves can control this...if they so choose.

Obviously, the NFLPA (not a union) was ecstatic. What this all means, we still don't know.

Here's their statement RIGHT HERE

Summary: Relax peeps. You aren't going to see football today. Yes, there are scattered reports of kickers and a few other players coming to their teams workout facilities. Most of them are player reps.

Teams have been told to let the players come in the offices, but no workouts. It will be interesting to see if there are any disagreements about this.

Stay tuned friends, romans and countrymen, this ain't over yet. We expect it to be over fairly soon, Judge Nelson's ruling clearly sides with the players. The question is: "What were the owner's thinking?" "Did they really think they'd win this?" It appears, according to the ruling, the owners had no legal basis what so ever for locking the players out.

Here's what will happen. The league will play this year. They will. It will be closer to the way things were structured last season. Goodell's fears are overwrought. The teams can't afford to go bonkers paying people, they'll price the fan bases out of the game if they do. We hope the draft stays and think it will (though it's incredibly over-hyped). And we'll still be subjected to 4 crappy exhibition games.

In other words, the more things change, the more they will stay the same....