Report: Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith to Consult Charlie Strong on Discipline

Roger Goodell

((ht:texas.247sports.com))

Huh?

According to reports by noted University of Texas insider Chip Brown, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Head DeMaurice Smith are seeking out Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong about Strong's "Core Values".

Specifically, Brown lists Strong's commitment to having his Longhorns live up to the Core Values, which are 1) Honesty, 2) Treat Women with respect, 3) No Drugs, 4) No Stealing and 5) No Guns.

Anyone on the Texas roster who fails to live up to that gets dropped. And thus far, Strong has dismissed 9 players and suspended 3 more for not living up to them.

Read more from Texas.247sports.com RIGHT HERE

Interesting thought process here. We respect what Charlie Strong is trying to do at Texas win, lose or otherwise. It's the way a College Football program SHOULD be run.

And the "Core Values" are something that should be a given for all athletes and quite honestly, for people in general to emulate. Really, it is.

But for the NFL, the problem runs a bit deeper. We think it would be great if the league adopted this to base there discipline rules on. But how do you enforce it?

The NFL's problem from day 1 is they never seemed to take these problems as seriously as society does. As long as the team gets their player back, nobody seemed to care.

But if Goodell and Smith are indeed serious and looking for opportunities to come up with a better system/program to institute, then by all means--go for it...
char

Surprising No One, NFLPA Appeals Rice Suspension

((HT: ESPN))

Double jeopardy doesn't work in any formation of the law- and that inclues the implementation of suspensions in the NFL.

The NFLPA is challenging the indefinite suspension of former Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice on the grounds that he was penalized for the same infraction twice. No matter how repulsive the charge and action, the NFLPA is doing the job that you would expect an association to do to back up one of their employees.

"This action taken by our union is to protect the due process rights of all NFL players," the NFL Players Association said in a statement. "The NFLPA appeal is based on supporting facts that reveal a lack of a fair and impartial process, including the role of the office of the commissioner of the NFL. We have asked that a neutral and jointly selected arbitrator hear this case as the commissioner and his staff will be essential witnesses in the proceeding and thus cannot serve as impartial arbitrators."

Jeff Saturday discusses:


Rice can apply for reinstatement when he convinces NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that he is "addressing this issue." Rice is in a diversion program at present and he could get the assault charged expunged if he completes it successfully.

But here's how the HQ sees this playing out...

The NFLPA will challenge, and will win their case. But no one will hire Ray Rice as an employee in the NFL (or any other league for that matter). This black-balling will cause Rice to sue the NFL for wrongful termination and the league and the player will be in court in an ugly case with a high-profile attorney defending his right to work.

This is FAR from over...

Civil Suit Filed Against Aaron Hernandez- Kraft Family And Patriots Named As Well...

((HT: MyFoxBoston))

And all of this has to do with the 2012 double murder Hernandez is accused in recently...

A civil wrongful death lawsuit against Hernandez was filed on behalf of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Lawyers for the two families are looking to stop the New England Patriots from handing over the signing bonus that the NFLPA is looking to get for him as part of his last contract that he signed. The lawyers are also looking to freeze any assets left from the sale of Hernandez's $5 million suburban Boston home.

The lawyers for Abreu and Furtado want that money for their clients.

Here's the idea from the Hernandez camp
Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

In another move, Hernandez's lawyers are looking to have their client moved to a jail closer to the city of Boston- since they have offices there and Hernandez also feel that their client's life is in danger.

From the motion:

"Surely there is now a reason to be seriously concerned about Hernandez's personal safety while housed at the Bristol County HOC and to question the ability of that facility's staff to treat Hernandez fairly and professionally while he is subject to their total control."

NFLPA's Smith Goes After Goodell On Sherman

((HT: CBS News))

It's Super Bowl week...
Which means the media are looking for topics to talk about for the two week period...

And, this time out, the topic was Richard Sherman...

"CBS This Morning" gave NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith a platform...

Guess what he did...??? He was critical toward the Commissioner...

Who knew...???

Northwestern Football Players File With NLRB

((HT: ESPN/Farrey))

How's this one sit with you...???

Led by Northwestern QB Kain Colter, college athletes are filing paperwork to be represented by a labor union... and they're backed by the United Steelworkers union and the NFLPA...

From Farrey, Colter was quoted:

"Right now the NCAA is like a dictatorship. No one represents us in negotiations. The only way things are going to change is if players have a union."

Colter had a meeting with Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald and he says it went well- a respectful conversation on both halves, and it appears that more than the needed minimum of players signed union cards.

Here's Tom Farrey with Toni Collins...


Former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma has brought all of this together, along with Colter and Luke Bonner- the brother of NBA'er Matt Bonner. The entity would be called the College Athletes Players Association if certified by the NLRB.

CAPA's goal, to start, is not to get players paid but to have a voice...

And it will get interesting from here...

Judge Throws Out Early Concussion Settlement, Figures Too Low...

So much for that idea...

US District Judge Anita Brody thinks the $900-million settlement between the National Football League and the nearly 4,500 defendants that played for the league and has pulled it off the table...

"I am primarily concerned that not all retired NFL football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their (families) ... will be paid," Brody wrote as part of her 12-page opinion.

Distribution is supposed to be on a sliding scale set to a former player's age and medical diagnosis and is supposed to last up to 65 years...

The HQ does not see how that math is ever supposed to work for the 20,000 players on the list awarded through the 4,500 who filed the suit...

As did Peter King when he was interviewed by CNN at the time of the settlement...


The NFL is one great negotiator and are still not moving from their stance...

"We respect Judge Brody's request for additional information as a step towards preliminary approval," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. "We will work with the plaintiffs' attorneys to supply that information promptly to the court and special master. We are confident that the settlement is fair and adequate, and look forward to demonstrating that to the court."

NFLPA Files Salary Grievance For Hernandez

((HT: MyFoxBoston))

Not that this is a surprise or anything, but the NFLPA is keeping an eye on the dollars that they feel, legally or otherwise, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez may or may not be due...

They're looking after the 2013 base salary ($1.323 million), the 2014 salary ($1.137 million) and the workout bonus ($500,000), which had guarantee language as a part of the contract with New England.

Totalling: $2.96-million

But the HQ thinks that there's something along the lines of the morals clause where the Pats will challenge the idea- backwards, forward, and upside down until further notice...

MyFoxBoston has also found out the identity of the main guy that Hernandez has been in touch with over the phone from jail... another old high school friend, Ryan McDonnell...
Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

DEVELOPING: NFL and Players Settle On Concussions

There is a proposed settlement in the concussions lawsuit...

More when we know more...

But if you divide $765-million into 4,500 it averages $170,000 per player- which, the HQ thinks, is a mere drop in the bucket when it comes to treatment (past, present, and future) of all the player's issues that have built up over time.

The settlement would fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and medical research.

The plaintiffs include at least 10 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Tony Dorsett, Jim McMahon and Junior Seau.

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody announced the proposed settlement, but she still needs to approve the deal...

UPDATE: $765 less 30% atty fees is $535.5 m / 4500 players= $119k if fees come off the top

NFL Concussion Suit Hits Next Stage In Philly

((HT: WPVI-TV))

After a 40-minute hearing in front of US District Judge Anita Brody, both the players and the NFL came out to discuss what may happen if the decision goes their way in the concussion suit brought forth by close to one-third of the league's retired players that claim they suffer from early onset dementia, depression, or Alzheimer's Disease.

NFL lawyer Paul Clement insisted that the teams themselves are the ones who are responsible for the player's safety:

"The one thing constant throughout is these agreements put the primary role and responsibility on some combination of the players themselves, the unions and the clubs," Clement argued in court. "The clubs are the ones who had doctors on the sidelines who had primary responsibility for sending players back into the game."

Players' lawyer David Frederick argued that the league tried to make it look like they were caring for their athletes when they really weren't- going as far as setting up the 1994 Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee that spread, according to Frederick "misinformation."

Brody is not expected to rule for several months, and the cases could take years to play out if her ruling is appealed- which, you can bet, it will... regardless of whose side wins...

Here's the early thoughts from Philly...

Goodell recuses himself from Saints Bounty appeals

Roger Goodell

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has handed over the hearings on the alleged Saints Bounty Program to someone else.

That someone: former Commish Paul Tagliabue.

Goodell made the announcement Friday after after speaking to the NFLPA and others who were all in agreement with the decision.

Goodell has been the target of several players including Jonathan Vilma and most recently former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, who was accused of being the "Whistleblower" in the whole incident. Kennedy vehemently denies the accusation.

Read that story from ESPN.com RIGHT HERE 

As for the decision, Goodell said; "I have held two hearings to date and have modified the discipline in several respects based on my recent meetings with the players. To bring this matter to a prompt and fair conclusion, I have appointed former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagilabue to serve as the hearing officer for the upcoming appeals. Paul Tagliabue is a genuine football authority whose tenure as commissioner was marked by his thorough and judicious approach to all matters. He has many years of experience in the NFL collective bargaining matters and an impeccable reputation for integrity."   

Interesting. The takeaway here is pretty simple. The Jolly Roger is trying to get the focus off of himself and onto the issue at hand. The players involved have maintained from the get-go, the punishment is a vendetta or an out and out lie on the part of the Commish. This hopefully will take that out of the equation.

It won't eliminate the suit filed by Vilma nor take the heat off from the other players involved. But it will help Goodell in the P.R war. And really that is the war that is in play here.

For his part, Tagliabue will have to get up to speed fairly quick. But he is a smart guy, and the guess is that won't be much of a problem. The question will be, "How will he wade through this mess?"       

Developing: NFLPA sues NFL over BountyGate--(Updated)

Yes, it's official: The NFLPA filed a lawsuit in a New Orleans Federal court this morning announcing that they are filing suit on behalf of at least 3 of the players suspended in the Saints BountyGate scandal.

The NFLPA is claiming the Jolly Roger (Goodell) violated the collective bargaining agreement by going public and naming Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita as guys who participated before giving them the benefit of a hearing.

Really?

The same NFLPA who released the document Anthony Hargrove signed saying he was told to deny his involvement in this?

Read that story RIGHT HERE

Yeah, we know Jonathan Vilma is filing his own lawsuit and yeah we know Saints fans believe the is NFL is conspiring against them.

**UPDATE**--The Jolly Roger (goodell) or at least his legal team filed a motion in court to dismiss the lawsuit that Vilma has brought forward. There's some discussion of a possible court appearance at the beginning of August for this, but nothing concrete--yet. 

But why?

This also comes on the heels of Goodell's denial of the players appeals, so there's timing involved but there are also a TON of stupid questions:

Why would the NFLPA release the Hargrove statement?

Why would it later (much) be denied by Hargrove?

If these guys are "Truly" innocent...why haven't they just said "Show me proof that money changed hands?" And no, a piece of paper saying it happened isn't proof.

The whole thing is just stupid to us. It's quite obvious the NFL has what they believe to be total proof that "BountyGate" happened. But we also believe there is something in the evidence they don't want the public to see. What that is...we don't know.

At this point, we are growing weary of the whole thing. We kind of hope that everyone just shuts up. There seems to be no denial a "Bounty" system was in place, but yet the players and other seem to be going to great lengths to deny it.

WTF?

Will The Trade Association Vote Friday...???

((HT: No Bias No Bull Sports))

If you check in with Trade Association head DeMaurice Smith or any of the hard-line player reps, the answer is "probably not..."

If we were to look into the shield's version of a Magic 8 Ball...

Smith wrote in an email to the 32 player representatives shortly after the owners' decision and back-slapping pride in Atlanta: "Issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open; other issues, such as workers' compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms, remain unresolved. There is no agreement between the NFL and the players at this time."


The HQ is fairly cvertain, however, that Jeffrey Lurie gave New Dawg more direct eye contact than he did Albert Breer of the Shield's network...


Chris Mortensen is confident of a Friday vote, but for all 32 player reps and 1,900 players all to get their hands on a copy of this 500-600 page document in time for digestion would be rare...