Saints quarterback Drew Brees admitted he was discouraged by a decision Monday by the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals that kept the NFL lockout in effect. Brees is one of 10 players named in the antitrust litigation against the NFL. On Monday, the players were dealt a blow when the 8th Circuit granted NFL owners' request for a permanent stay of a district judge's ruling that temporarily lifted the lockout. The league's full-fledged appeal will be heard in St. Louis on June 3. "I haven't read the opinion yet but I'm discouraged by the fact that that the U.S. District Court had ruled heavily in our favor and now it seems to be the opposite in the 8th Circuit Court," said Brees. "We're in mediation now and I always go in with a positive attitude that we can work towards a settlement. It has to run its course but I'm hoping there is progress made so we can get back to football."