PFT, suspensions could be thrown out on technicality error by NFL

That'd be funny

I was really wondering about this.

I mean, I had read before that each side HAD to give up its evidence 72 hours before the appeal started, which would be Friday some time.
The NFL did send some evidence, but it was flimsy and mostly recycled.
Their better evidence didn't appear until the afternoon of the appeals.

I was curious why no one thought that was strange.





So, who punishes the NFL for breaking the rules of the CBA?
Is it Goodell?

As a federal agent who was first a union steward and now a manager, I can tell you that if you violate the CBA, you're screwed. I've dealt with CBAs from both sides of the fence. I haven't read the particulars in this instance, but I can tell you that if it's clear cut and the 72 hours turns out to be 72 hours and 5 minutes, the NFL is in serious jeopardy. You have to be a stickler here. After all, if you allow the NFL to go 77 hours instead of 72 hours, what happens when the NFL violates the 72 hour rule again? They'll be able to say, "Well, we did it before and it was fine."

There are vague articles in any CBA such as, "both labor and management will promote health and safety" that are left to wide interpretation. Then there are hard and fast deadlines that have no wiggle room. They are what they are and can't be interpreted or reasoned around.

In addition, when handling evidence and preparing discovery for the defense, I have exactly 10 calendar days to push it out. Not 11 days, not 10 days, 2 hours. If I don't get a waiver from a judge, my case is thrown out. Call it a technicality, call it whatever. But if Goodell violated the rules, any arbitrator in the country will rule in favor for the players in less time than it takes to finish his chocolate doughnut.

quote:

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suspensions could be thrown out on technicality

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I wonder if that's the plan. Goodell is either a crazy, arrogant megalomaniac, in which case the owners would be stepping in and doing damage control, or he has an exit strategy.

If he lets this play out and he has no true evidence then he looks bad and it emboldens the union to fight him.

If the players get off on a technicality his culture change shock and awe message was still sent, the players are relieved and move on rather than seeing Vilma as a martyr that unifies the players against Goodell, and the NFL gets to say "we tried to push player safety but he players union fought against us on the issue."

I'm not saying that's what's happening here, but that actually seems like a better exit strategy than letting this play out in court or settling in a way that makes Goodell look weak like having some one else decide the player punishment.

Florio gets a lot of shite on this site (just like David Stern got on Hornets boards WHILE HE WAS SAVING OUR FRANCHISE). Maybe we should appreciate that he has the stones to be the only prominent media member who is holding Gooddell and the NFL accountable.