NFL 2011 season

[Ed Anger]

Needs Al Bundy.

[KRonn]

Madden '12 cover released:

Lol... it may still come to that! Hope not though.

[Vince]

You fail at cable like Vince fails at football.

It's true. 

[katmai]

Hall of Famer, former 49ers great Joe Perry dies
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Perry still stands as San Francisco's all-time leader in yards rushing (7,344) and touchdowns rushing (50). He led the 49ers in rushing on eight occasions, including seven consecutive seasons from 1949-1955.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of Joe Perry's passing earlier today," 49ers owner John York said. "He was a dear friend to my family and me and to the entire 49ers organization. He was also an intricate part of our rich history. A truly remarkable man both on and off the field, Joe had a lasting impact on the game of football and was an inspirational man to the generations of players that followed him. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife, Donna, and his entire family. He will be sadly missed by all of us."

Perry finished with 9,723 yards rushing on 1,929 carries with 71 touchdowns in 181 career games. He also had 2,021 yards receiving on 260 catches for 12 touchdowns. He broke the NFL record for most career yards rushing, a total that was later topped by Jim Brown.

Perry, who also spent a stint in the Navy and served during World War II, became the first player with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 1953 and '54.

The 49ers retired Perry's No. 34 jersey in 1971.

Perry was a member of "The Million Dollar Backfield" featuring four future Hall of Famers in Perry, Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson and Y.A. Tittle. For three seasons from 1954-56, they formed a fearsome foursome. The group remains the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members voted into the Hall of Fame.

Perry regularly attended enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, supporting 49ers ownership and former players.


Perry was later discovered by 49ers tackle John Woudenberg while playing running back for the Alameda Naval Air Station Hell Cats. Woudenberg promptly told 49ers owner Tony Morabito and head coach Buck Shaw about Perry, the team said. Perry's first season with San Francisco was in 1948. He played for Baltimore from 1961-62, then wound up back with the Niners in his final season of 1963.

Perry was born Jan. 22, 1927, in Stephens, Ark. Memorial service arrangements were pending.

[Valmy]

Activist Judges strike again.  Hans rages at our unelected God Emperors:

Judge ends lockout; owners to appeal

MINNEAPOLIS -- Seven weeks into the NFL lockout, players have an early triumph over the owners in court.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered an immediate end to the lockout Monday, siding with the players in their fight with the owners over how to divide the $9 billion business.

The NFL immediately said it would ask Nelson to put her order on hold so the league can pursue an expedited appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

Nelson granted a request for a preliminary injunction to lift the lockout, saying she was swayed by the players' argument that the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 is hurting their careers.

The plaintiffs "have made a strong showing that allowing the League to continue their 'lockout' is presently inflicting, and will continue to inflict, irreparable harm upon them, particularly when weighed against the lack of any real injury that would be imposed on the NFL by issuing the preliminary injunction," Nelson wrote.

If the injunction is upheld, the NFL must resume business, although under what guidelines is uncertain.

It could invoke the 2010 rules for free agency, meaning players would need six seasons of service before becoming unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire; previously, it was four years. The requirement for unrestricted free agents would be four years rather than the three years before 2010. There also was no salary cap in 2010, meaning teams could spend as much -- or as little -- as they wanted.

Also, the NFL would need to determine what or if offseason workouts can be held while the appeal is being heard.

Clearly, it's complicated.

Jim Quinn, an attorney for the players said time is of the essence.

"They better act quickly, because as of right now there's no stay and, presumably, players could sign with teams," he said. "There are no guidelines as of right now, so they have to put something in place quickly."

Owners imposed the lockout after talks broke down March 11 and the players disbanded their union. A group of players filed the injunction request along with a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the league.

Nelson's ruling simply lifts the lockout and does not address any of the antitrust issues. That will come another day.

"We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes," the league said. "We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal."

The NFL is going forward with the draft, which begins Thursday night.

Dolphins alternate player representative John Denney said he didn't think the ruling was the end of the dispute.

"Right now we got what we wanted, but it may be temporary," he said. "We'll have to let the judicial process play out."

At the hearing before Nelson on April 6, the crux of the argument from NFL lawyer David Boies was that the court shouldn't have control of a conflict that grew out of a labor dispute. Boies even tried to lighten the mood by telling her, "No lawyer ever wants to stand in front of a judge and say, 'You don't have jurisdiction."

The owners, in support of their argument, pointed to their pending unfair labor charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board that the players didn't negotiate in good faith.

Nelson disagreed -- and threw cold water on that hope, too.

"Although the NFL has filed a charge here, the NLRB has yet to issue any complaint and, in this court's considered judgment, it is likely that the Board will dismiss the charge," she wrote in her ruling.

Nelson rejected the league's prediction that the NLRB would see the union's breakup as temporary, thus supporting the assertion that the dissolution was purely a tactical move.

"There is no legal support for any requirement that a disclaimer be permanent," Nelson wrote. "Employees have the right not only to organize as a union but also to refrain from such representation and, as relevant here, to 'de-unionize."

Nelson also stated that the so-called decertification was legitimate because of "serious consequences" for the players.

Nelson heard arguments on the injunction at a hearing on April 6 and ordered the two sides to resume mediation while she was considering her decision. The owners and players, who failed to reach consensus after 16 days of mediated talks earlier this year, met over four days with a federal magistrate but did not announce any progress on solving the impasse.

They are not scheduled to meet again until May 16, four days after another judge holds a hearing on whether players should get damages in their related fight with owners over some $4 billion in broadcast revenue.

And now comes Nelson's decision to lift the injunction.

"(T)he public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract principles of the antitrust laws, as professional football involves many layers of tangible economic impact, ranging from broadcast revenues down to concessions sales," she wrote. "And, of course, the public interest represented by the fans of professional football -- who have a strong investment in the 2011 season -- is an intangible interest that weighs against the lockout. In short, this particular employment dispute is far from a purely private argument over compensation."

With appeals expected, the fight seems likely to drag on through the spring and, possibly, into the summer. The closer it gets to August, when training camps and the preseason get into full swing, the more likely it becomes that regular season games will be lost.

Osi Umenyiora, the New York Giants defensive end and one of the plaintiffs, called the ruling a "win for the players and for the fans" in a statement.

"The lockout is bad for everyone, and players will continue to fight it," Umenyiora said. "We hope that this will bring us one step closer to playing the game we love."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6424084

[CountDeMoney]

These kids wouldn't understand about Joe Perry, katmai.

[katmai]

But I know there are some who would

[jimmy olsen]

Yay! 

[Barrister]

These kids wouldn't understand about Joe Perry, katmai.

I understand about Joe Perry.

He's a guitarist with Aerosmith.

[Liep]

Browns gets a good schedule, playoff secured.

[JacobL]

Browns gets a good schedule, playoff secured.

I must have missed the article where this year they changed the rules to allow 30 teams into the playoffs.

[Neil]

Browns gets a good schedule, playoff secured.

I must have missed the article where this year they changed the rules to allow 30 teams into the playoffs.

Maybe the Browns will play in the Arena league?

[Grey Fox]

Damn it. No season. ESPN needs to die.

[Grey Fox]

You know I was wondering. Is extending the season by having more off weeks for each team without having more regular season games ever been considered?

[MadImmortalMan]

I voted against Michael Vick for the Madden cover. If Peyton Hillis wins, that will be the first time a Browns jersey is on it I bet. There's just some poetry in a Dawgs vs Vick contest though.