Sports

Judge Lifts NFL Lockout

But owners immediately appeal.

A federal judge in Minnesota has lifted the NFL lockout, and the Players Association has told its members to show up ready for work and workouts Tuesday. The judge, Susan Nelson, argued players’ decision to “de-unionize’ was legitimate and players will suffer harm from the lockout, since their careers are so short. But the league is still a long way from playing football in 2012. NFL owners immediately appealed the decision, asking a higher court to examine whether the judge exceeded her jurisdiction and to put her ruling on hold until the appeals are sorted out. If the appeals court denies the latter part of the request, the NFL will have to resume business in some form.