*CONFIRMED post #238, pg 16* Tank Johnson Would Be Available to Us In Week 9

[Hostile]

From what I understand, Ricky Williams had fulfilled his suspension. He is still part of the Dolphins. He still has to ask for re-instatement and Goodell could tack on some more time, but he met the 1 year suspension already. I had not heard anything about his case since he failed his last test a couple of months ago. He kind of just disappeared and I may have missed if anything new happened. He won't owe any games unless Goodell added some to his suspension and I missed that.

Right!

He is still a "under contract" with the Dolphins. He was placed on the suspended list.

Same with Odell Thurman of the Bengals. He applied for reinstatement after serving all of 2006 and was turned down.

None of the players who get suspended are simply going to walk onto the field and announce they are back and the NFL can't do a thing about it.

Tank owes 8 games, it can be reduced to 6. He has not served 1 game already because he is not under contract. No team listed him on their 53 man roster as on the suspended list.

 

[iceberg]

Wait. So Ricky played in the CFL because he was on suspension, but he didn't serve his suspension while in the CFL?

Honestly, I'm confused as to the whole sequence of events that happened with the Ricky situation. I've had too many beers since then.

he wasn't under suspension from the CFL - it's a goat trail argument that has nothing to do with the overall point. ricky could have played backyard football in nigeria and it would have nothing to do with the penalty he owed the NFL "while under contract" with the NFL.

 

[sacase]

Right!

He is still a "under contract" with the Dolphins. He was placed on the suspended list.

Same with Odell Thurman of the Bengals. He applied for reinstatement after serving all of 2006 and was turned down.

None of the players who get suspended are simply going to walk onto the field and announce they are back and the NFL can't do a thing about it.

Tank owes 8 games, it can be reduced to 6. He has not served 1 game already because he is not under contract. No team listed him on their 53 man roster as on the suspended list.

So the question really is, can he be signed to a contract and not count against the 53 man roster?

 

[BigDFan5]

For the record, Tank Johnson is a member of the NFLPA, and the collective bargaining agreement applies to him.


IANAL, but I think he'd have a pretty strong case against the NFL from a labor point of view if he fought to treat the eight games at the beginning of the season as his suspended games, seeing as the CBA does not specifically address the situation of a player being released after a suspendable offense occurs. In essence, it puts him in a catch-22 where he can't serve a suspension because he doesn't have a contract but he can't get a contract because he has to serve a suspension.

Of course, the CBA could contain language to specifically address this, but it doesn't appear to, and that could potentially lead to litigation or arbitration.

The NFL and NFLPA are two different entities. He is not suspended from the NFLPA, he is suspended from the NFL, or will be as soon as he is a member of the NFL again

 

[joseephuss]

So the question really is, can he be signed to a contract and not count against the 53 man roster?

That sounds right. Coleman was on the team to start last year and did not count against the 53 man roster while he was serving his suspension.

I think they should change that rule as a way of punishing the team that signs said player or has a player that gets suspended.

 

[superpunk]

I could be wrong, but

(a) Ricky was not under contract with the Dolphins in 2004. He retired.

(b) Ricky did not play for the CFL when he was retired. He was learning how to give massages in Africa.

(c) He asked the Dolphins permission to play in the CFL while he was under contract with them serving his current season-long suspension.

So, just putting that out there.

 

[sacase]

That sounds right. Coleman was on the team to start last year and did not count against the 53 man roster while he was serving his suspension.

I think they should change that rule as a way of punishing the team that signs said player or has a player that gets suspended.

Well if that is the case, sign him up to a 2 year contract with minimums and incentive and a roster bonus next year. Nothing to loose everything to gain.

 

[zrinkill]

So Tank has signed up and is playing next week ........ right?

 

[iceberg]

So the question really is, can he be signed to a contract and not count against the 53 man roster?

now this one i'm guessing but no. if you sign a suspended player, he counts to your 53 and you just make a conscious choice to keep him regardless.

chicago i believe chose not to, hence the cut and debate now raging.

if the 53, could they always be inactive?

and in case it comes up next - i don't think we can sign a suspended player to the practice squad. : )

good question but i believe he'll count on the 53 but i have no idea on the actives or inactives.

 

[kmd24]

When Ricky Williams unretired and was reinstated by the NFL he served 4 games first. If he is reinstated again he will owe 1 year this time but a team will have to sign him first.

Why is Tank different than all other evidence?

Exactly, he isn't.

One difference between TJ and RW is that RW retired ostensibly to avoid the subsequent mandatory drug testing. TJ was cut after the Bears learned that he'd be suspended.

 

[kmd24]

I could be wrong, but

(a) Ricky was not under contract with the Dolphins in 2004. He retired.

(b) Ricky did not play for the CFL when he was retired. He was learning how to give massages in Africa.

(c) He asked the Dolphins permission to play in the CFL while he was under contract with them serving his current season-long suspension.

So, just putting that out there.

You are correct, sir.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would hope if Dallas is looking for a replacement for Fergy they would be looking for someone who can help right away instead of 7 or 8 weeks from now.

 

[Big Dakota]

Right!

He is still a "under contract" with the Dolphins. He was placed on the suspended list.

Same with Odell Thurman of the Bengals. He applied for reinstatement after serving all of 2006 and was turned down.

None of the players who get suspended are simply going to walk onto the field and announce they are back and the NFL can't do a thing about it.

Tank owes 8 games, it can be reduced to 6. He has not served 1 game already because he is not under contract. No team listed him on their 53 man roster as on the suspended list.

It really puts these players in a tough spot with teams not wanting to sign a suspended player. It almost amounts to a lifetime ban for some of these cats.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Sooo, could a team sign him, have him stub his toe, and put him on IR? lol

Edit: If he had to count against the 53....

 

[iceberg]

It really puts these players in a tough spot with teams not wanting to sign a suspended player. It almost amounts to a lifetime ban for some of these cats.

these players shouldn't be doing things they know they shouldn't be doing to put themselves in this spot. if they're that dense, then that's that it takes to get the message through.

 

[kmd24]

He is still a "under contract" with the Dolphins. He was placed on the suspended list.

What's the real world (i.e., not semantical) difference between a player "under contract" but receiving no salary and a player that was cut after being suspended?

 

[superpunk]

You are correct, sir.

And, to my eyes, Ricky Williams, a retired player would not fall under the "seeking employment" category. he was not cut, he was not injured, his situation is not the same as Tank's.

Tank was employed when suspended, he is not retired, he wants back in.

He may not be able to serve the suspension until he has a contract (although that is hardly a prerequisite from what I've read so far), but that doesn't mean the situation is cut and dry. Noone has the correct answer on this, anyone acting like they do is just blustering. You can make a decent guess, but none of us can know.

I can see it both ways.

 

[Big Dakota]

these players shouldn't be doing things they know they shouldn't be doing to put themselves in this spot. if they're that dense, then that's that it takes to get the message through.

I agree and i still doubt it will go away.

 

[Big Dakota]

What's the real world (i.e., not semantical) difference between a player "under contract" but receiving no salary and a player that was cut after being suspended?

Owning rights therefore not a FA?

 

[BigDFan5]

Yes, the suspension is part of the conduct policy and only those under contract are covered by the conduct policy. Logically, however, this does not of necessity require that he be under contract in order for the suspension to be served.

Yes it does require that. How can he serve an NFL suspension when he is not a contracted member of the NFL?