You say: "The judge can't send it to a neutral independent arbitrator unless he vacates the suspension." I take it that I'm reading it right as "Vacates the decision" not "Gives a stay of the suspension pending an investigation by a neutral, independent arbitrator".
Now here's my question:
Can the judge say:
"I order the NFL's decision to be vacated and I order that a new hearing be held before XXX, a neutral independent arbitrator."
or can he only say:
"I order the NFL's decision to be vacated and express the opinion that, if any further action is taken by the NFL, it must be subsequent to investigation by a neutral independent arbitrator if it is later to be upheld by this court"
If it is a straight up-or-down decision, it sounds like the second is the most he could do if the parties don't agree independently.
(Sorry for the semantic nitpicking, but, you know, the law for us outsiders ...)