No judge wants to be made an a** of by a DA.
Trials are rescheduled all the time. I really don't think this will go on much longer. The NAACP jumping in with a desire for a "gag order" is a good sign for the boys, not a bad sign.
You hit nail on the head about this helping the players. Their lawyers will have a field day. The motion gives the defense the opportunity to bring into evidence for hearing on the matter testimony and tape of Nifong's many public statements.
This is a GIFT to the defense, but the NAACP lawyers are too uninformed and clueless to know that. Of course, the short route is to bust them on the Standing issue, since they have none.