NFL Coaches Side With Players In Lockout Fight

MINNEAPOLIS – The NFL Coaches Association is backing the players in their legal fight to end the owner-imposed lockout.

The association filed a brief with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday. It says the lockout is inflicting irreparable harm on coaches who rely on summer minicamps and workouts to get on the same page with players heading into the season. It says newly hired coaches are being particularly harmed.

No individual coaches are identified in the brief. The NFL says it was not surprised by the filing because the coaches’ association shares an office with the NFL Players Association in Washington.

The 8th Circuit has set a June 3 hearing to hear arguments on whether the lockout is legal.