CM3 and peppers to be suspended indefinitely if they don't talk

[Patler]

If my employer said they wanted to talk about some accusations, founded or unfounded and I told them to "forget it, I'm not talking". I would likely also be on an unpaid leave very quickly.

"This is Amercia" doesn't work so well with a private employer.

That said, Goodell makes this stuff up as he goes and people don't care until it's "their" team about to get rammed up the keister, then suddenly it's not fair.

That's the way I feel about it. I get the feeling this would have gone away quickly and quietly if the players had met with the league when first asked (sometime last spring?). The union decided to take a stance. That immediately set up a battle, because the league could not simply say, "Oh, OK. Never mind." and then just ignore it. The union knew it to. Basically, the initial refusal pretty much indicated that this was going to court, because I didn't expect either side to back down until forced.

Manning's part with the league went mostly unnoticed until it was done, and the announcement made. It could have been the same with the other players.

[texaspackerbacker]

The media in general is a bunch of scumbags, and Al Jazeera has to be the worst of the worst. That being said, it wouldn't hurt the guys they accused to go in and say for the record that it's all bullshit. They aren't testifying under oath, and if the NFL had independently found reason to bring them in instead of the damn media, clearly they should go. As it is, it appears they have no choice.

One thing that troubles me just a little bit, if it is total bullshit, why don't the players sue the scumbags for slander or libel?

Patler, if Matthews and/or Peppers say they didn't and it comes out that they did, are you gonna turn against them too?

[Patler]

Never know if you're playing devil's advocate or not!

This time I'm not.

Should they look into it? Yes. Should players be forced into conducting interviews and answer questions? Not sure why. This is like the oldest line in the book from a cop asking you to turn your pockets out - "If you've got nothing to hide, why does it matter?"

disclaimer: I'm Canadian, most of what I know about US law I learned from 'The Practice'!

The way this is heading, it seems to me that signing a contract with the NFL effectively suspends your 5th amendment right?

But this isn't the police in a criminal investigation. It's more like a private employer/employee situation. Not exactly, because the league isn't the direct employer. That's what makes for litigation!

[Patler]

One thing that troubles me just a little bit, if it is total bullshit, why don't the players sue the scumbags for slander or libel?

I think a couple of the baseball players have. It's tough to win against the media, especially when they have a tape of the "informant" saying exactly what was reported.

[Carolina_Packer]

Meanwhile, back at NFL Headquarters...

[pbmax]

bs considering the guy recanted. so there's no story.

This is the important part. The rest of this is just checking boxes. I thought there might be something to this when they reported Mike Neal made a demonstrably false statement in his affidavit to the League. But the false statement wasn't about this incident, his affidavit said he failed to mention his previous suspension for a positive PED test.

On the other hand, Goodell is doing a good job of assuring a job action in 2018/19.

[pbmax]

I think a couple of the baseball players have. It's tough to win against the media, especially when they have a tape of the "informant" saying exactly what was reported.

If you are a public figure, you must prove malice of intent I believe.

[pbmax]

The players themselves are to blame for the last CBA they signed giving Roger Goddell absolute authority. It doesn't matter what court or legal theory they try the NFL trots out the ratified and signed CBA and they win.

Goodell has always been the arbitrator of last resort in the CBA in most respects. So was Tagliabue. The language did not change. What did change was Roger availing himself of it more often and inventing new levels of sentencing based on the public reaction.

There are other areas where grievances are sent to a neutral arbitrator, but they are limited to contracts I believe. Drug and Alcohol and Conduct have never had outside arbitration.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/190368246/understanding-the-nfl-cba-and-nflpa

[Harlan Huckleby]

[SIZE=3]Regardless of agreements or commissioners, is not this still America . Nobody has to volunteer information that puts them in jeopardy.

You ever said that to YOUR boss when he/she asked you questions directly related to your workplace?

I want Salt n Pepper to spill every last bean.

[gbgary]

it's become a distraction so get it over with.

[ThunderDan]

I don't know, the original statement from Al Jazeera is looking an awful lot like a McCarthyism, and the NFL is acting on it.

But it is an employment issue that was agreed to in contract by the NFL and NFLPA.

It sucks, don't get me wrong. I would have hoped that the NFL would have stopped this when the person recanted their story.

[Patler]

I would have hoped that the NFL would have stopped this when the person recanted their story.

I think with a minimal amount of cooperation from the players, it would have ended very quickly. Recanting alone wasn't enough to stop their inquiry, but minimal cooperation back in March/April (whenever) from the players would have been, I think. It would have quickly been forgotten.

[Radagast]

You ever said that to YOUR boss when he/she asked you questions directly related to your workplace?

I want Salt n Pepper to spill every last bean.

I never allowed any employer to BOSS me in any manor. Furthermore on the one occasion that I was called upon to testify truthfully about an incident, rather than lie and see a fine technician blamed, I told the truth and saw a nuclear engineer assume the responsibility for his actions . It was not what those in power wanted to see happen as they were trying to protect their engineer, but burning the innocent man would have been even worse .

If you live in fear of an employer, or those in power, they will feed on that fear and grow more arrogant . I pity anyone that can be held hostage to a job, no matter how good the job.

[pbmax]

I think with a minimal amount of cooperation from the players, it would have ended very quickly. Recanting alone wasn't enough to stop their inquiry, but minimal cooperation back in March/April (whenever) from the players would have been, I think. It would have quickly been forgotten.

But that is why Goodell's actions will ultimately be self defeating. In a normal environment (say Tagliabue or Rozelle), the NFLPA might be more inclined to believe it is not precedent setting to have an interview under these circumstances.

But Roger is maximizing every chance he has to rule against players. I have no doubt that if they refused to be interviewed, it would not be a Favre non-cooperation fine or a Brady-like 4 game sentence. They would be gone until Roger is satisfied. And what satisfied Roger is not written down anywhere. It exists in the press reception of news and the opinions of his owners.

[Patler]

I never allowed any employer to BOSS me in any manor. Furthermore on the one occasion that I was called upon to testify truthfully about an incident, rather than lie and see a fine technician blamed, I told the truth and saw a nuclear engineer assume the responsibility for his actions . It was not what those in power wanted to see happen as they were trying to protect their engineer, but burning the innocent man would have been even worse .

If you live in fear of an employer, or those in power, they will feed on that fear and grow more arrogant . I pity anyone that can be held hostage to a job, no matter how good the job.

It's not a matter of being in fear of an employer, its a matter of understanding that in many respects what is good for one is good for both. If the employee/employer relationship is viewed as being only adversarial, many opportunities will be lost.