Judge Rules NFL Negotiations at an Impasse

About 350 National Football League players without contracts moved a step closer to unrestricted free agency Friday when a federal judge ruled that negotiations between the players’ union and league owners were at an impasse.

The decision by U.S. District Judge David Doty cleared the way for a hearing on a preliminary injunction that would allow the players whose contracts expired in February to sign with any other team, without compensation to the original team.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, which expired last year, teams had the right of first refusal before a player could sign with another team, and teams losing a free agent had to be compensated with a draft choice.

The National Football League Players Assn. filed an antitrust lawsuit against management Oct. 15, when players returned to work without a contract after a 24-day strike. The union said an impasse had been reached in negotiations, but league owners disagreed, calling it a temporary break, or recess.

Doty said his ruling doesn’t mean an injunction is forthcoming. He said he would make a decision before July 10, when four NFL teams open training camp.