All-Pro quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning will play defense in St. Louis on June 3 as they face National Football League owners in a legal challenge that could decide the fate of the 2011 season.
The players are defending on appeal a district court’s preliminary injunction halting a lockout imposed by the owners. The lockout came after negotiations on a new collective-bargaining agreement fell apart, and players decertified their union. In Brady v. NFL, the players contend the lockout violates federal antitrust laws. Ten players in all are listed on the complaint, chosen because they collectively represent all of the subclasses — players under contract (like Brady), free agents (like Manning) and rookies (like Von Miller).
