NFL Draft 2011: What Latest Lockout Legal Developments Mean for the Draft

This morning came news that the NFL lockout had been lifted, but what exactly does that mean?

After a little research it essentially means...nothing.

The NFL still has plenty of legal options to prolong lockout in place, at least for the next few days.

That means the NFL Draft will likely proceed without any player trades, and that is a certainty on day one. That could complicate scenarios for teams trying to move up and down the board to get the best value for their picks.

On Wednesday night, the NFLPA scored another victory when U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson determined the NFL had failed to prove that a stay was warranted. The NFL was trying to argue that it was suffering irreparable harm because of Judge Nelson's decision.

The NFL then filed for an emergency stay, and ESPN's Sal Paolantonio is reporting that a three judge panel will make a decision on the request Thursday afternoon. If one of the three judges decides the stay is granted, then the lockout is back in place.  

At this point the NFL is only hurting itself. To date they have yet to win a single battle in court and seem to be delaying the inevitable.

So now, NFL teams will enter the 2011 draft without being able to make trades, and without knowing what needs they will be able to address through free agency. Teams also cannot contact draft picks to make negotiations, which could make things complicated for teams like the Carolina Panthers, who are reportedly deciding amongst four players for the first pick in the draft.

For as much money as these owners have, it seems to the layman that they are lacking a bit of common sense.