A strategic blow to the NFL this week. A federal judge has rejected the NFL’s request to extend the league’s filing due date in the antitrust litigation.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeanne Graham ruled Monday that the NFL must answer by June 6. The NFL had requested the deadline be moved from May 26 to July 6, to file it answer in the case of Brady vs. NFL.
”The court acknowledges that the injunction of the lockout is on appeal, but there are other significant factors weighing strongly in favor of moving forward with the rest of the case,” Graham wrote. ”Regardless of the ruling on appeal, this case is likely to proceed” on other grounds.
The league had argued that the extension was warranted until after the lockout litigation has been resolved.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments June 3 on the legality of the ongoing lockout.
