NFLPA: Players seek at least $707M in TV damages from league

NFLPA: Players seek at least $707M in TV damages from league

Locked-out NFL players pushed for $707 million in damages on Thursday in their dispute with the league over broadcast revenue, according to NFLPA attorney Tom Heiden.

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty conducted a two-hour hearing in Minneapolis and heard arguments from lawyers for both players and the NFL over the $4 billion pool of TV money. Doty took arguments under advisement and is not expected to issue a ruling until next week at the earliest.

"I'll be honest with you. I didn't think we would have have this hearing, and I'm a bit disappointed we are having it," said Doty to both sides in his opening remarks.

The players contend that the league illegally secured the "war chest" of $4 billion by renegotiating TV deals for the 2011 season. Doty ruled on March 1 that the NFL left money on the table by failing to maximize revenues for the players in its negotiations with the TV networks.

According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, players' counsel Jeffrey Kessler argued that the injunction keeping the league from accessing the TV money should be ruled on expeditiously. Meanwhile, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said his side is looking for "fundamental fairness" from the dispute.

Breer also reported that the $707 million figure pursued by the players is only a starting point for damages and that other factors will push that number significantly higher. According to Fox's Alex Marvez, here is how much each network paid the NFL for TV rights:

• ESPN: $967 million
• NBC: $775 million
• Fox: $713 million
• CBS: $610 million
• DirecTV: $555 million

Legal experts believe a large award -- which is expected -- from Doty in the case will provide the players with more leverage in the lockout dispute. Still, the NFL is likely to appeal any ruling from Doty back to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

The players believe the revised TV contracts were a calculated move by the NFL to help pay for the lockout, which has crippled league activity with little interruption since it began on March 12. The lockout's fate is currently being considered by the 8th Circuit Court, which has stayed a lower-court ruling that invalidated the work stoppage last month.

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