The NFL has notified its clubs they can resume operations, including most offseason activities, beginning Friday at 8 a.m. ET.

According to a statement issued by the league, team officials may immediately contact players to advise them about the hours the facilities will be open for use, to schedule medical and rehabilitation sessions and to set up meetings with coaches.

The league likely will address the start of the 2011 League Year on Friday. That would encompass player transactions such as free-agent signings.

The league said it was taking the steps as an appropriate response to the preliminary injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. The NFL's request for a stay was denied Wednesday. The league is awaiting further guidance from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with which it has filed an appeal of the injunction and sought a stay.

The statement details eight points that deal with everything from players' use of facilities to contact with team officials and the start of voluntary offseason workout programs.

Players who showed up at team complexes around the league on Thursday were again not allowed to do any activities.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora spoke with Washington Redskins center Casey Rabach, who reported to Redskin Park on Thursday morning. Rabach spoke briefly with general manager Bruce Allen, but he was not allowed to enter to work out.

"I stopped by to talk with Bruce," Rabach said via text. "Everyone was good there. He told me they are waiting to hear on the stay filed with the 8th district court."

When asked if he went to the facility hoping to work out, Rabach responded:

"I went there knowing it wasn't going to happen. It would have been nice."

In Minnesota, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway showed up at Winter Park but was "cordially" informed that he would not be allowed to workout at the facility, The Star-Tribune reported.

"I went down to the weight room before I got changed and I didn't know what was going to happen," Greenway said. "The strength coaches were there, just getting there, and they said that they didn't know what we could do. I was called by (vice president of football operations) Rob Brzezinski. He said, 'You can hang out as long as you want and we want you to be around, but we don't know what rules to go under so there's no workouts available today'."

Riddle me this... isn't it in the nfl's best interest to have all the players play, go through the season, and keep running with the last set of rules rather than a holdout? Doesn't a holdout infer a strike which typically is in the "workers" favor, or in this case players? Anyone give some insight? Everyone loses in that situation, but the players can live without some salary a few games, how can the nfl teams survive a year without significant income?

M2K, a judge (Doty I believe) already ruled that the NFL can't pocket TV revenue in the case of a lockout. I think the NFL appealed the decision, but I don't know what's going on with it at this point.

Yeah, the court ruling was that the NFL didn't negotiate in good faith for the best possible deal, instead to get incentives for a possible lockout. The NFL just can't argue infront of a court successfully, and even the 89-page judgement by Nelson is going to make it extremely hard for a labor-unfriendly 8th circuit to grant a stay.

The players have ALL the leverage right now.

Does this mean that players can be traded? Any chance we see Corey Williams or SLH traded today?

Maybe someone else can confirm, but during the Draft today they said there was breaking news that the Stay had been granted,and that the Lockout was back in effect. it did not seem to be a joke of any kind.

How can you look at the guys who would've been UFAs and argue they aren't experiencing 'irreparable harm?' The short window after the draft can determine a guy like that's future. If this drags on long enough, you're gonna have a whole slew of guys who will miss serious opportunities.

Hell, you could say it about any rookie. Your ability to make the roster is based on how well you learn the playbook and how well you perform in OTAs and training camp. What if you take away those opportunities?

Something tells me this is another class action suit in the making...