After a series of stinging rebukes from federal judges, the NFL has a significant, favorable ruling in hand from a higher court. The lockout remains in place, and the same panel that sided with the league to keep it will hear arguments next month on the legality of the NFL's first work stoppage in nearly 14 years. So as owners and players and their legal counsel return to court-ordered mediation on Tuesday morning, the likelihood of the league giving ground in talks has clearly decreased. Commissioner Roger Goodell arrived Tuesday morning with other league leaders, and other owners entered the courthouse in separate small groups. Linebacker Mike Vrabel showed up shortly before attorneys for the players. With restlessness and uncertainty surrounding the NFL with the start of training camps a little more than two months away, the players could be in a tricky place. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6557162
