Court Spurns Appeals

The Supreme Court rejected the appeals of 18 current and former NFL players who say they were wrongly forced to join the $200 million settlement of an antitrust lawsuit against the league and its 28 teams.

The court, without comment, turned away arguments that those players who objected to the settlement should have been allowed to opt out and pursue their own lawsuits.

Groups of players sued the NFL in 1992 in several lawsuits, contending that various league practices and policies violated federal antitrust laws.

Among the challenged practices were restrictions on players moving from one team to another, the college draft and pre-season pay rules. The lawsuits sought injunctive relief - an order requiring the NFL to change its rules and monetary damages.