Roger Goodell Is Being A Dick And Trying To Suspend People For No Reason Again
(PFT) — The obvious headline from the letter sent Monday by the NFL to the NFL Players Association regarding the Al Jazeera investigation is that the league has threatened to suspend Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, Packers linebacker Julius Peppers, Steelers linebacker James Harrison, and free-agent defensive lineman Mike Neal if they don’t submit to interviews by August 25. The deeper message comes from the NFL’s use of the precedent created by the Tom Brady suspension, appeal, and litigation to threaten the players with suspension for failure to cooperate with a league investigation. Never mind the fact that the PED policy says nothing about an obligation to cooperate in an investigation regarding a potential violation of the PED policy due to something other than a positive test or an alleged or actual violation of the law. As written, the PED policy seems to give players the right to refuse to say anything until the NFL has developed sufficient “credible evidence” to justify the imposition of discipline. Then, if the player chooses to appeal, he tells his story within the confines of the appeal process.
Armed with the immense power given to the Commissioner by the federal appeals court ruling in the Brady case, the league can now disregard the terms of the PED policy and invoke Article 46 to compel cooperation with an investigation under the PED policy, despite the plain terms of the PED policy. Before Brady, no player had ever been suspended for failing to cooperate with or obstructing a league investigation. Now, based on the Brady precedent, the NFL has a hammer that it never specifically obtained through bargaining.
Whoa! So you’re telling me Roger Goodell is using all that power confirmed by the Second Circuit Court to be a fucking asshole again? You’re saying the commission of the NFL is wielding a huge stick and doesn’t care if he’s right or wrong? He just wants to flex his muscles and show how tough he is, with no evidence to support any of his claims? I don’t believe it! He couldn’t! Roger Goodell? That guy just catches cheaters.
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The funniest part of this saga, to me, is the fact that everybody is on the side of the players this time. One hundred percent of my Twitter timeline, from national talking heads to random Stoolies I accidentally followed, thinks that the players have no obligation to meet with Roger Goodell. The same people who said, “if Brady doesn’t have anything to hide then why not turn over his phone” and “McNally should’ve met with the investigators 1,000 times!” think that these players accused of steroid abuse should absolutely not meet with the league. I agree with them, don’t get me wrong, because meeting with the league is just asking to have your words twisted and leaked in order to frame you, but it’s just funny how the sentiments change as the jerseys involved with the investigation change.
But, I don’t want to turn this into a “told you so!” situation (though I did tell you so), I simply want to welcome Steelers and Packers into the “He fucked us” club. Patriots, Saints, Dolphins, Ravens and Vikings fans accept you with open arms. Soon you will all be in this club with us, I assure you.
PS – It’s HYSTERICAL how Peyton snaked his way out of this one simply by meeting with them, so the NFL could use that meeting to set a precedent with the rest of the guys. Peyton fucked them by doing that, but he doesn’t care because he’s retired now. Tom Brady fought his ass off for two years to avoid this precedent, he tried to be the hero the NFLPA needed. He didn’t turn over phones, didn’t bow down, didn’t kiss Goodell’s feet. He wasn’t a coward. He knew even if he did all this shit that the CBA said he didn’t have to do he would be hanging the rest of the players out to dry. Tom Brady had an obligation to fight with the NFLPA. Not Peyton, though. Retires then immediately abandons all his brothers. Shows up at the commissioner’s doorstep with his lube and kneepads, ready to do whatever was asked of him and damn what it means for everyone else. That’s how you get found innocent after admitting to having steroids mailed to your house, agree to fuck the rest of the league over. Peyton Manning is a rat.
PPS – James Harrison was selected for a “random” drug test today. Goodell really is just a crooked cop. Agree to play ball with him or he’ll make your life a living hell.