Few expect quick response after judge sides with players

Odds are, some Eagle or another showed up at the NovaCare gates this morning and asked to be allowed inside, following U.S. Judge Susan Nelson's ruling yesterday in Minneapolis granting an injunction against the NFL lockout.

Was that player allowed to enter? By the time you read this, Nelson or the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis might have granted a stay of her order ending the lockout, as the owners appeal the ruling; a stay would make the gate issue moot, aside from some possible bruised feelings, if the parking lot arm failed to raise for someone's Land Rover.

The NFL world was turned upside down last night, everyone wondering what might come next. Unofficially, players, agents and the former players union seem to believe the stay will be granted, reinstating the lockout, though they do not think the league will win its appeal. If they are right, the end of the lockout would seem to be in sight, but not here just yet.

The league said it would not reopen for business until the stay was granted or denied. One agent contacted by the Daily News, who asked not to be named, said that as far as he is concerned, his clients are "free to go to work, get treatment, talk with coaches and work out at the facilities."

Neither Eagles president Joe Banner nor general manager Howie Roseman responded to questions from the Daily News last night. A team spokesman, asked what would happen if players tried to enter the practice facility this morning, deferred to the league. A league spokesman said, shortly before 10 p.m., "we will clarify that with the clubs shortly." Later, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the league's management council told teams to allow players to enter, but recommended keeping weight rooms closed.

If the stay isn't granted, the league presumably will have to come up with rules for the league year - trades, free agency and the rest - within a few days.

Another agent, South Jersey-based Jerrold Colton, said he would not tell players to report today, and Eagles player rep Winston Justice concurred.

The reasoning behind reporting, other than to be provocative, would be the premise that the players need to retain their eligibility for offseason workout bonuses. Colton said most contracts stipulate the player attend something like 90 percent of the scheduled workouts.

"As far as I know, no one has scheduled a workout" today, Colton said. The prospect of being turned away from the gate over an unlikely contract technicality was not appealing, he said.

"I wouldn't subject my players to that kind of treatment at this point," Colton said.

"Guys can go," as long as no stay is in place, Justice said. "I just don't see how that's going to help. It's a lot of uncertainty right now."

Justice said he was still seeking information and hoped to send an email to teammates later last night.

"We'll have a better idea where we want to go" after a ruling on the stay, Justice said.

Jamar Chaney, an Eagles rookie linebacker last season, seemed to indicate via Twitter he intended to try to get in, though it wasn't clear whether he was entirely serious.

"So if they gone appeal, than I don't have that much time, Ima go to the facilities tomorrow, tell coach I need my playbook . . . " he said. *

For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.

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