Redskins Facing Long Odds In Recouping Cash If They Launch Legal Challenge

The Redskins would have "little or no chance of recouping any of their lost salary cap space" if they launch a legal challenge pertaining to their '12 salary cap penalty, but the team may "have some strong arguments to make," according to sources cited by Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. One source said that he thinks the team "could use the NFL’s position in a recently dismissed collusion lawsuit brought by the players’ union against the league." The source added that the Redskins could "argue that if the union had waived its right to bring a complaint based on conduct that occurred before pro football’s 2011 labor agreement, the league and union also should be prohibited from taking action against a team for conduct prior to the labor deal." The source said of U.S. District Court Judge David Doty's ruling that the collusion case could not move forward, "Maybe there is something to Doty’s ruling that makes the issuance of discipline (against the Redskins) inappropriate." Two separate sources said that they "believe the Redskins could make a good case in court that they should be granted an injunction to halt free agency because they would suffer irreparable harm otherwise" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/26).

GO YOUR OWN WAY: ESPN.com's Ed Werder reported Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones will "not join" Redskins Owner Dan Snyder if he "files a lawsuit to prevent the start of free agency while challenging the salary-cap penalties imposed on both franchises by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last year" (ESPN.com, 2/26).