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Article: Judge Opens Way for NFL Free Agency;Says League, Players Lack Labor Relations
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 29, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A federal judge in Minneapolis has thrown out the National
Football League's labor antitrust exemption, paving the way for the
players to sue for unlimited free agency.
In ruling on the NFL Players Association's decision in November
1989 to renounce its status as the players' collective bargaining
agent and on the players' majority decision to have no one represent
them in that area, Judge David M. Doty said, "Because no `ongoing
collective bargaining relationship' exists," the court determined
that the antitrust exemption ended.
"You couldn't ask for anything better," NFLPA Executive Director
Gene Upshaw said. "This is huge."
The ruling could mean that players would no longer have to be ...