Steelers' Clark optimistic lockout could end soon
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Steelers saftey Ryan Clark on the NFL lockout: "Both sides are actively pursuing a deal and getting this thing done."
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Steelers safety Ryan Clark was on a conference call Friday afternoon with other union representatives and said afterward he is optimistic the longest labor stoppage in NFL history is close to getting settled.
Clark, the Steelers player representative, said NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA president Kevin Mawae and executive committee member Charlie Batch were on Friday's call.
Clark said he has been on conference calls at the end of the week for the past few weeks with Smith and other members of the NFLPA.
"The last few weeks have been very positive on the whole," Clark said Friday afternoon. "Both sides are actively pursuing a deal and getting this thing done. It's been very positive in all aspects.
"People on the outside are getting more optimistic the more the media talks about it, but for those of us on the inside, for those of us in the know, we've been excited."
On Friday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis threw out Judge Susan Richard Nelson's order to lift the lockout. Nelson had ruled the lockout was against federal law after players argued they were suffering irreparable harm.
The 8th Circuit put that order on hold, and its ruling Friday said Nelson ignored federal law in reaching her decision. The 8th Circuit's ruling does allow the players to go back to federal court in September and re-file their antitrust case.
In addition, rookies and all free agents can seek relief from Nelson through an evidentiary hearing to determine if the lockout applies to all players without contracts.
The news of the 8th Circuit's ruling came during negotiations between Smith and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York.
"While we respect the court's decision, today's ruling does not change our mutual recognition that this matter must be resolved through negotiation," they said in a joint statement issued by the league and the NFLPA. "We are committed to our current discussions and reaching a fair agreement that will benefit all parties for years to come and allow for a full 2011 season."
First Published July 9, 2011 12:00 am
