Retired NFLers Appeal Decision To Withdraw Claims Against League

Some retirees who had filed two lawsuits last month against NFL Films, but were then ordered by a federal judge to withdraw their claims while a similar case settled, appealed that decision today to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In '09, six players led by Fred Dryer sued NFL Films for allegedly using their images without their permission. Counsel for the retirees reached a preliminary settlement in March, though hundreds of retirees, including the original six, have opted out of the $50M deal.

Last month many of them filed new claims against the NFL. But the federal court judge, overseeing the Dryer settlement, Paul Magnuson, ordered the cases withdrawn until the settlement is closed. The appeal, filed by players in the now withdrawn Culp v. NFL case, challenged that decision in a two-page notice of appeal filing in the Minnesota federal court this afternoon.