MINNEAPOLIS -- A $4 billion lawsuit from the players union accusing NFL team owners of setting a secret salary cap in 2010 was kept alive by a federal appeals court Friday as the sniping between the two sides persists long after the end of the lockout. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis partially reversed a federal judges order that had rejected the unions collusion claim, sending the case back to U.S. District Judge David Doty for further proceedings. The three-judge appeals court panel that heard oral arguments in January disagreed with Doty on one of the unions two arguments for pursuing damages despite the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that was supposed to relinquish the unions right to sue for alleged breaches of the old CBA. The NFL called the appeals court decision "entirely procedural in nature" and said its "far from validating" the claims of the NFL Players Association. "The Court specifically highlighted the heavy burden that the NFLPA faces in establishing this claim, and we remain highly confident that the claim will be dismissed yet again," the NFL said in a written statement. The league, however, could be forced to make public otherwise-confidential financial and strategic information in court, which the union has pushed for all along. "We are pleased that the Eighth Circuit ruled that players have the opportunity to proceed with their claims," the NFLPA said. "Through discovery and a hearing, we can understand how collusion took place. We have notified the NFL of its obligations to preserve all relevant documents and communications." The collusion claim seeking at least $4 billion in relief for the players was originally filed in May 2012, less than a year after the new CBA was implemented following a five-month lockout. The final year of the prior CBA was supposed to be "uncapped," but the union cited public references by New York Giants owner John Mara and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as evidence that a salary cap existed and claimed a loss of $1 billion in cumulative compensation. Dallas and Washington were penalized for overloading contracts in that 2010 season despite league warnings, and the NFL in 2012 penalized them by taking away $10 million in cap space from the Cowboys and $36 million from the Redskins. Dotys oversight of the 1993 Reggie White class-action settlement was marked by mostly player-friendly rulings. The league lost enough key decisions under his jurisdiction that it twice tried to have him removed from his role as the sports legal referee, alleging impartiality. But in December 2012 he handed the union a rare defeat, pointing to the new CBA language that dismissed all prior claims and prevented the players from reopening the White settlement that served as the backbone for the old CBA to sue. The NFLPA appealed soon after. The 8th Circuit panel -- chief judge William Riley and circuit judges Roger Wollman and Bobby Shepherd -- has traditionally tilted pro-business, but this was a win for labour. The appeals court sided with Doty in ruling the alleged collusion did not invalidate the 2011 dismissal of claims because the settlement has been treated more like a contract than a true class action. However, the appeals judges disagreed with Doty on this: Under a federal rule authorizing relief in exceptional cases where the party being sued disingenuously reached the settlement, the union should be allowed to argue the merit of its lawsuit despite the 2011 dismissal. "The Association bears a heavy burden in attempting to convince the district court that the dismissal was fraudulently procured," the judges wrote. "We hold only that the Association should be given the opportunity to meet this burden." Swell Marble Bottle NZ . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind. Swell Bottle Teal Wood . Over the course of his career Glenn is 79-71-1 in 151 starts for a .526 career winning percentage. Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league. http://www.swellwaterbottlenz.com/. Bale has had a successful debut season in Spain, and Ancelotti appears ready to reward him with a starting role on Saturday. Ancelotti says "Gareth had some problems at the beginning (of the season) but when he found good physical condition he scored a lot of goals, he had a good impact on the team. Swell Water Bottle Nz .com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown. Swell Traveller NZ . - Whether its because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. MINNEAPOLIS -- Yu Darvish showed up to the ballpark on Wednesday with his stiff neck feeling much better, and the Texas Rangers were able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing their Japanese ace wont have to join a long list of teammates on the disabled list. Darvish was scratched from his start on Tuesday night because of that neck discomfort, but Rangers manager Ron Washington said before a game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that the right-hander will start at Washington on Sunday. Darvish had an MRI on Tuesday that showed there was nothing to be concerned about and he was able to get through a workout at Target Field on Wednesday with no issues. Washington chose to just skip Darvishs turn in the rotation rather than bump him back a day or two to make sure that Darvish is as close to 100 per cent as possible before he returns to the mound. "One thing about Yu Darvish, if he wont be 100 per cent, hell let us know," Washington said. Darvish is 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA, the fourth-best in the league and has 71 strikeouts in 61 1-3 innings. Darvish didnt pitch for three weeks in spring training because oof a stiff neck, a condition that pushed back his first start of this season to April 6.dddddddddddd Washington said he wasnt sure what caused the neck pain this time, but he wasnt concerned about it becoming a nagging injury. "Yu Darvish is a different animal," Washington said. "He just doesnt want to have any reason why he doesnt feel well. So if he doesnt feel right ... wed much rather know hes OK. We dont want him worrying about it. So well hold him back until Sunday." Outfielder Daniel Robertson is also ready to go after a scary collision last week with Alex Rios and suffering an injury to the bone around his left eye. Robertson has been outfitted with a clear mask -- much like the ones NBA players wear when they break their noses -- that he will wear in the outfield to protect himself from further injury. He will have to wear the mask for four to six weeks and will use a modified batting helmet that protects the area when hes at the plate. "Its weird wearing it. Its frustrating wearing it," Robertson said. "But for the most part, there is no limitation." ' ' '