( CNN ) -- A federal judge ruled in favor of NFL players on Monday , issuing an injunction that ordered the league 's owners to lift their lockout . However , Greg Aiello , NFL senior vice president of public relations , said the league will seek an immediate stay of the ruling pending an appeal . A lockout was imposed after talks between the players and owners broke down last month and the players disbanded their union . An NFL statement said an appeal will be on the grounds that federal law prohibits injunctions in labor disputes . Your guide to the NFL talks . In her ruling Monday , U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said the decision by the players to disband their union meant the case no longer came under federal labor law that prohibits injunctions , as claimed by the owners . Tom Brady , Drew Brees , Peyton Manning , and seven other players filed the lawsuit on behalf of other current and eligible NFL players against the league to halt the lockout , which could affect the start of the 2011-12 season scheduled for September 8 . The players also want a future trial to determine if the NFL lockout is in violation of federal antitrust laws . If the players are locked out from playing in September , it would be the first NFL work stoppage since 1987 , with months of labor and legal maneuvering looming for football fans already confused about how a $ 9 billion industry lacks enough money to satisfy everyone . The heart of the issue between the players and the owners is how to divide the league 's $ 9 billion in revenue . Right now , NFL owners take $ 1 billion off the top of that revenue stream . After that , the players get about 60 % . The owners say that the current labor deal does n't take into account the rising costs related to building stadiums and promoting the game . The players argue that the league has not sufficiently opened up its books to prove this . In addition , the owners also want to increase the season by two games , which the players are against because of the risk of injuries . NFL 's dirty secret : Players suffer . While star players earn millions of dollars each year , the median NFL salary is $ 790,000 and the average career lasts about four years . A lockout also impacts the league 's employees : the receptionists , ticket salespeople , and stadium workers . The New York Jets have announced that they will require all business-side employees to take a one-week unpaid leave each month during any lockout . The lockout will not stop the NFL draft , which will proceed as scheduled on April 28-30 , the league said .
The union says it will file an immediate lawsuit . Monday 's ruling involves whether the case is still a labor dispute . The NFL threatens to delay the start of the 2011 NFL season .