Retirees appeal dismissed lawsuit vs. players union

MINNEAPOLIS -- The retired players whose lawsuit against the NFL Players Association was dismissed last month have filed an appeal.

The group led by Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller filed Thursday with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson rejected their claims that the current players and their attorneys had no right to bargain with the NFL about retiree benefits last summer because they weren't legally a union then. Nelson in her May 29 order denied their right to hundreds of millions of dollars in additional post-career benefits they argued they were cheated out of during lockout talks last year.

The retirees contended they were pushed out of negotiations to streamline the mediation process despite a court order for their inclusion

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Broncos LB Williams see complaint dismissed; six-game suspension intact

DENVER -- A federal judge has dismissed a complaint filed against the NFL by Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, who was seeking to overturn his drug suspension.

Attorney Peter Ginsberg said Thursday that Williams would appeal the decision.

Williams had sued the NFL to overturn a pending six-game drug suspension. He contended that the league violated protocol in collecting urine samples.

Williams faces a trial on a drunken driving charge in August. He was arrested in Denver on Nov. 12, 2010, when he was spotted driving his car without headlights. He was cited with DUI and taken to a detox facility.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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