1988
In January, Judge David Doty agrees with the league that the contract should remain in effect, and urges both sides to continue bargaining on the free agency issue. In July, Doty refuses to turn loose 300 NFL players from their teams by granting them free agency, saying it could destroy competitive balance and cause some teams to fold. Instead, Doty urges that the sides get out of the courts and go back to the bargaining table while preparing for an antitrust trial that he says he thinks the players would win.