Apparently, one of the things Zeke's legal team feels strongly about is the wording of the NFL's memo about the NFLPA's statements:
“Over the past few days we’ve received multiple reports of the NFLPA spreading derogatory information to the media about the victim in Ezekiel Elliott discipline case, It’s a common tactic to attempt to prove the innocence of the accused by discrediting the victim — in this case Ms. Thompson — when coming forward to report such abuse.”
Oops!
Thompson is only a victim if Zeke was convicted. The fact that the word, "alleged" isn't used makes this statement slander. It is believed that, if the entire suspension isn't dropped, Zeke and the NFLPA will seek, and get, an injunction stopping the suspension for now.
Zeke's team is also considering the "nuclear option", they will attempt to prove that Goodell had a vested interest in the suspension of Zeke and, therefore, cannot be an unbiased party to the process. This opens the door for a complete renunciation of all suspensions and punishments handed down by the commissioner.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...nst-nfl/ar-AAqYWCl?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp
This is what said nuclear option would look like should the NFL not reverse Elliott’s suspension on appeal:
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* NFLPA will seek an immediate injunction to overturn the suspension. Said injunction will be heard by the United States District Court in Southern New York. It’s the same court that did indeed grant Brady an immediate injunction before a higher court reinstated his four-game ban.
* Once that’s happens, and assuming the court in Southern New York grants an immediate injunction (it will), the NFL will sue in the United States Court of Appeals, claiming that it’s judicial overreach for the courts to get involved in the league’s collective bargaining issues.
This is when the NFLPA, Kessler and Elliott will go all-out nuclear.
There are 13 district courts in the United States, all of which ultimately answer to SCOTUS. Though, the NFLPA could very well appeal the Court of Appeals decision with the New York Supreme Court. It’s a court that has in the past sided with unions over corporations. An activist court, one might say.
The idea behind this would be to pave the way for the case being heard in the United States Supreme Court. This seems to be the union’s ultimate end goal.
And in reality, the Elliott case is only being used as a guise to challenge Roger Goodell’s overreaching powers in cases of arbitration.
As we mentioned before, at least one State Supreme Court has sided against Goodell when it comes to his current power.
In siding with team employees over the NFL, the Missouri Supreme Court pretty much threw out Goodell’s power of arbitration back in 2015.
The guise here was that Goodell himself had too much financial influence to be seen as an independent body, one that overreaches his role as commissioner.
In short, the ruling claimed that there were inconsistencies within the NFL’s constitution and bylaws.
“Section 8.3 gives the commissioner complete control and final jurisdiction to arbitrate any dispute between any player, coach or other employee of the league,” the ruling read. “Commissioner shall have no financial interest, direct or indirect, in any professional sport.”
With a salary of $44-plus million, the NFLPA will argue that Goodell’s financial influence in the league sways his decisions under the collective bargaining agreement signed by both sides back in 2011. It’s an argument Kessler used in at least catching the court’s eyes during the Brady case.
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It may not be exaggeration, it could be true, Goodell's days could be numbered. in fact, it's very possible that his new five year contract is being delayed pending the outcome of this hearing. That is speculation on my part but if you were an owner, would you want that contract if you might have to pay hundreds of millions in liability?
