March 30: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees answers a question concerning the lockout of NFL football players, at a news conference for a charity golf tournament in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (AP)
MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal judge in Minnesota has decided to combine two requests to halt the NFL lockout.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said Monday that she will hear arguments from attorneys for Tom Brady, Drew Brees and other current players, as well as attorneys for retired players. The current players and retirees have filed similar antitrust lawsuits against the league in addition to their requests for an injunction to stop the lockout.
The arguments will be heard Wednesday.
The players say the lockout should be stopped because it is causing irreparable harm. The retirees say it could jeopardize retirement benefits subsidized by the league.
The retirees asked to consolidate the cases. Attorneys for the NFL didn't oppose combining the cases, but they want the lockout kept in place.
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