A federal judge has refused to impose...

A federal judge has refused to impose sanctions against the NFL Management Council for a letter it sent to players concerning their union’s antitrust battle over free agency.

U.S. District Judge David Doty also refused to release confidential information that the players claimed would show the league had decided against bargaining with the NFL Players Assn. as far back as 1984.

The undated letter tells players that union strategy to pursue litigation rather than collective bargain is expensive and ineffective.

The NFLPA said the letter was “filled with inaccuracies, omissions and misrepresentations” and showed why no progress was made in bargaining.

The players union filed suit against the league in 1987 after a strike over free agency. The players claimed the free agency plan violated antitrust laws.