Updated Mar 1, 2011 8:14 PM ET

A federal judge Tuesday dealt a blow to the NFL in advance of a potential work stoppage this week.

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty overruled special master Stephen Burbank’s recent ruling that the owners could use the $4 billion in television money they had stashed away as a potential work-stoppage fund should the collective bargaining agreement expire midnight (ET) Thursday .

In essence, Doty ruled the NFL violated the CBA and called for a separate hearing to assess the damages that should be awarded to the players.


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