An arbitration panel just nullified the Bounty-Gate player suspensions (and only the players) and ordered the players be allowed to play in week 1 until:
"commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination
of the discipline imposed for violating the league's
pay-for-performance/bounty rule."
But, WAIT A MINUTE...
#1, how could Goodell do that without violating what ran him afoul the first time? If Goodell could make that determination, didn't he do so, twice?
#2, does this not basically completely undercut the Commissioner's absolute authority over player discipline and player safety? Any suspension could now be overturned because the Commissioner, similarly, oversteps his bounds. The league would be forced to implement, immediately (as in, effective for games this week), an independent "court" where the players' appeals could be heard.
#3, does this not basically nullify the (farcical) stated Player Safety and Conduct Initiatives? Those initiatives are Goodell and Goodell alone. The players don't want to be safe. They certainly do not wish to conduct themselves within the boundaries of the law.
Roger Goodell should be fired, BY THIS SAME ARBITRATOR, because he cannot act in what he believes to be the best interests of The Game and The Shield under this decision.
Bounties are now acceptable in the NFL.
lmao okay man, the arbitrator should fire Roger Goodell? Where does he get that power from exactly?
ReplyDeleteThe same place he got this ruling from.
DeleteIf Goodell does not have the authority to nail the Saints to the wall on this stuff, then he has so grossly overstepped what authority the law has for him that he cannot remain as NFL Commissioner.
What? He was authorized to rule on this dispute. The end. Nobody gave him the power to make decisions regarding Roger Goodell's employment status or anything regarding the NFL for that matter. That's how arbitration works. He can't just be "Oh, while I'm at it, you're done Roger."
DeleteWE WANT ROGER OUT OF THERE!!
DeleteThis keeps up with the replacement refs, and you might get your wish.
DeleteBut what he said is that the players were so in the right that Goodell has stepped far beyond his jurisdiction that I could easily see them stating that he needs to go and to get someone into the office who could stay within the bounds of their jurisdiction.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think they could go that far, if they felt the league and the Commissioner's Office operated in that bad of faith -- and I believe the ruling indicates that to exactly be the case!