SAN FRANCISCO — Former NFL players won a $26 million class action settlement with the NFL Players Association a few years ago. Now they’re looking to run up the score with a malpractice action against class counsel Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and McKool Smith.

On Wednesday the two law firms made a goal line stand at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. But they may not get the call they need from Chief Judge Alex Kozinski and Judges N. Randy Smith and Morgan Christen.