Judge Denies NFL Owners’ Request to Hold College Draft Until 1992

In a ruling hailed as a victory by both sides, a federal judge Monday denied a request by National Football League owners for permission to hold the college draft until 1992 but declined to rule on its legality.

U.S. District Judge David Doty said that until the NFL Management Council, which represents the league’s owners, and the NFL Players Assn. reach a bargaining impasse on the issue, the owners “are exempt from antitrust claims on the college draft provision up until the expiration of the agreement.”

Because the last collective bargaining agreement expired in 1987, (the college draft provision, however, lasts until 1992) the NFLPA claimed a victory and said it may seek an injunction to prevent the 1989 draft.

The judge also refused the owners’ request that he make a summary judgment on the validity of the NFL players’ contract until an impasse has been reached on that issue.

In addition, Doty dismissed the union’s claims for antitrust damages regarding the existing free agency system before June 17, when the impasse was found on the issue.