National Football League

Retirees appeal dismissed lawsuit vs. NFLPA

Published Jun. 21, 2012 7:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

The retired players whose lawsuit against the NFL Players Association was dismissed last month have filed an appeal.

The group led by Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller filed Thursday with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson rejected their claims that the current players and their attorneys had no right to bargain with the NFL about retiree benefits last summer because they weren't legally a union then. Nelson in her May 29 order denied their right to hundreds of millions of dollars in additional post-career benefits they argued they were cheated out of during lockout talks last year.

The retirees contended they were pushed out of negotiations to streamline the mediation process despite a court order for their inclusion