OSU's Clarett eligible for NFL draft [View All]

[underpants]

Has the NFL ever won a lawsuit?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/nfl_clarett_dc

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge threw out an National Football League eligibility rule on antitrust grounds on Thursday in a decision that opens the door for U.S. high school athletes to turn professional without first attending college.

The ruling in federal court in Manhattan, which would allow high school athletes to turn professional without first attending college, makes Clarett, 20, eligible for the 2004 NFL draft.


In her decision, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin found the eligibility rule violates antitrust laws by excluding certain competitors from the market. She set a conference with lawyers to discuss whether Clarett was entitled to damages.

We believe today's ruling is inconsistent in numerous respects with well-established labor and antitrust law, and we will seek review of the ruling in the Court of Appeals. We fully expect our eligibility rule to be upheld when this case is concluded," an NFL spokesman said.