The players appear to realize that unrestricted free agency for everyone is not very likely.
But their sport has unrestricted free agency in a restricted sort of a way.
Jackson can be eligible for unrestricted free agency at age 28.
Both sides are preparing their cases, with unrestricted free agency the major issue to be argued in court.
By Friday, they must protect 37 players and expose the others to two months of unrestricted free agency.
The eight players are seeking $3 million in damages and unrestricted free agency.
That's not easy in the era of unrestricted free agency.
The same court, but a different judge, gave the players unrestricted free agency 12 years ago.
And both gave up two years of unrestricted free agency to do so.
When a new labor agreement was reached, the two players were granted unrestricted free agency.