Former NFL star Mark Gastineau isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. The legendary New York Jets defensive end has officially appealed the dismissal of his lawsuit against ESPN, the NFL, NFL Films, and others over the controversial 30 for 30 documentary The New York Sack Exchange.

After a federal judge threw out the case back in March, Gastineau is now taking his fight to the next level. The heart of the dispute? A conversation between Gastineau and Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre that captured the infamous "phantom sack" — a play that allowed Michael Strahan to break Gastineau's single-season sack record back in 2001.

According to the lawsuit, Gastineau claims his chat with Favre was used without his consent. But it gets deeper than that. He also argues the documentary portrayed him "in a manner which was maliciously false," and that the producers "intentionally and maliciously" left out footage showing Gastineau and Favre shaking hands after the play — a moment that would have shown sportsmanship rather than controversy.

For now, the appeal process is just getting started. In federal court, the first step is simply filing an intention to appeal — no arguments, no briefs, just a formal notice that the fight continues. The defendants previously argued that the lawsuit "fails to state a claim on which relief can be granted," meaning even if everything Gastineau says is true, there's no legal basis to hold them responsible.

If you're a sports fan, you know the legal game can be just as slow as a fourth-quarter timeout. Federal appeals typically take at least a year to play out. So while Gastineau may have been sacked by the court system for now, this battle is far from over.