Goodell and his "Investigative Team" backed into a corner

[The Quest for Six]

Zeke will appeal but I highly doubt his suspension is going to be reduced.....just imagine if the suspension is reduced from 6 to 4 and the outrage from woman's groups arguing that Domestic violence against a woman is equivalent to deflating footballs......The media will have a field day on that....appeal, accept the results and move on,

 

[ThreeandOut]

You are mostly correct. The only way for Zeke to play this is to raise the Black Man Racism card in the media and the press because, he must combat versus the Woman as victim card that is being pushed by the NFL lately. The courts have already spoken on the CBA so Zeke has to make his case in the media. Disparate treatment of Zeke vs Brown is a media defense that must be nurtured.

I think I've changed my mind on the Cowboys signing Kaepernick. We need a competent backup QB and he is just the man to lead this protest.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Zeke will appeal but I highly doubt his suspension is going to be reduced.....just imagine if the suspension is reduced from 6 to 4 and the outrage from woman's groups arguing that Domestic violence against a woman is equivalent to deflating footballs......The media will have a field day on that....appeal, accept the results and move on,

I believe that he likely won't serve any suspension this year. This will be taken to federal court unless somehow the suspension is lifted by Goodell on appeal (which we know won't happen).






YR

 

[LittleD]

If he loses this round or even gets it reduced, he's still guilty in the eyes of the NFL Regime and will be out if it happens again.

I know...It's really sad if he didn't do anything but, the NFLPA completely gave in to the league on these issues and now this has come back to
bite black players especially.

 

[wrongway]

You give me 13 months with seemingly unlimited resources, and I can prove Michael Irvin was involved in the assassination of JFK and Nate Newton conspired with Cersei Lannister to kill Ned Stark. Hopefully the appeal results in justice for Zeke.

Nice

 

[LittleD]

I think I've changed my mind on the Cowboys signing Kaepernick. We need a competent backup QB and he is just the man to lead this protest.

That ship will never sail by Jerry and the Cowboys especially in a state like Texas. He chose his political ideas over playing football and is now
living with the consequences. Kaepernick may never play NFL football again. No team right now is so hard up they want to live with the media fallout.

 

[Kevinicus]

What I see that is from a legal standpoint, the league will likely have issues explaining how they gave Josh Brown a 1 game suspension versus giving EE a 6-game suspension. They will also likely have to face the issue that all of this with EE and Thompson occurred prior to the change in the rules of a 6-game baseline suspension.

YR

Where did you get that idea? This was in July of last year (2016). The policy was put in late 2014.

 

[links18]

I think the league is crossing a dangerous area when all it takes is an accusation to get players suspended. There is no innocent until proven guilty and it is hard for anyone to prove themselves innocent.

Can't prove a negative....

 

[Kaiser]

The FWST has a new article up that (if true) really boosts a Dallas lawsuit against the league. Not only is there a mountain of evidence that discredits Zeke's accuser, but the girl Thompson gave contradictory statements to the NFL investigators, which is why they don't list specifics in the suspension documents.

Check out these lines from the article below, any decent trial lawyer would destroy the NFL with these -

Elliott’s appeal game plan includes highlighting Thompson’s already chronicled text messages encouraging a friend to lie to police about an alleged domestic assault on July 22, misleading testimony to NFL lead investigator Lisa Friel and repeated threats to ruin his career after breaking off the relationship, per documents obtained by The Star-Telegram.

Per the documents, Friel was unable to give an clear endorsement of Thompson’s credibility because she repeatedly misled investigators.

 

[ottawacowpoke]

What I see that is from a legal standpoint, the league will likely have issues explaining how they gave Josh Brown a 1 game suspension versus giving EE a 6-game suspension. They will also likely have to face the issue that all of this with EE and Thompson occurred prior to the change in the rules of a 6-game baseline suspension.

I honestly think that in Goodell's power hungry mind, lying or not cooperating with an NFL investigation is worse than the actual offense they are investigating. Brady's suspension and the sanctions against N.E. were not because of deflating footballs, but because they didn't cooperate and lied to investigators. He can simply use the catch all phrase of misconduct in the name of "Protecting the Shield". EE and JJ didn't cooperate, 6 games. Josh Brown was apparently forthcoming - 1 game. The NFLPA needs to address player discipline in the next CBA or this will never change.

 

[texbumthelife]

The biggest problem is that the owners signed off on this CBA that gave the league the power to dole out what they consider justice and, though they have a standard penalty, it's also in the language that that commissioner can either increase or decrease that penalty of his own free will. Goodell wasn't hired, he was created.

Every bit of language in regards to the personal conduct policy allows the Commish to wield an incredible amount of power without reproach. This is why any attempt to fight this outside of the league, in real courts, will be a losing battle. It's all in the CBA--which the owners including Jones signed off on.

 

[jday]

Goodell and his "Investigative Team" backed into a corner

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Great thread. Zeke's stature, success, fame and notoriety allowed the league to create more a statement/stance vs DV. The increased visibility of the case led to the decision and it's completely unfair. All cases will not be treated the same. They will cherry pick and create different measuring tools as they go along.

 

[CATCH17]

How long does Goodell have to give an appeal?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I honestly think that in Goodell's power hungry mind, lying or not cooperating with an NFL investigation is worse than the actual offense they are investigating. Brady's suspension and the sanctions against N.E. were not because of deflating footballs, but because they didn't cooperate and lied to investigators. He can simply use the catch all phrase of misconduct in the name of "Protecting the Shield". EE and JJ didn't cooperate, 6 games. Josh Brown was apparently forthcoming - 1 game. The NFLPA needs to address player discipline in the next CBA or this will never change.

The NFL stated that EE *did* fully cooperate.



YR

 

[Plankton]

How long does Goodell have to give an appeal?

Once it's received, it has to be scheduled within 10 business days.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I think you meant to say, "Goodell and his witch hunt team."

 

[Everson24]

The only thing that can correct this is a change in public opinion. Right now, its a PR win for the league--nobody is going to stand up for someone accused of DV in our current societal environment unless there is slam dunk evidence of innocence and there usually isn't in a she said / he said situation. Its easier to sell a narrative of punishing a "woman beater" than it is protecting the rights of the accused. Who is the public going to side with? A millionaire AA athlete with a propensity for bad decisions or a woman who claims she was beaten and made a sex slave? Its going to take a lot of work and some considerable risk to change the league's PR calculations. You might get rid of Goodell, but the next guy/lady is likely to face the same PR logic. It doesn't make me happy to say that.

I truly believe that The NFL (John Mara?) and Roger Goodell strategically chose Zeke as their example of their new stance on DV because they knew they would have the public support they needed. Think about it. The two most hated teams in the NFL are Dallas and New England. I just don't think it is a coincidence that Goodell chose those teams to set an example. In both the Brady case and now in Zeke's, the rest of the owners and the general public is in full support of Goodell because he stuck it to those hated teams.

 

[Alexander]

Zeke will appeal but I highly doubt his suspension is going to be reduced.....just imagine if the suspension is reduced from 6 to 4 and the outrage from woman's groups arguing that Domestic violence against a woman is equivalent to deflating footballs......The media will have a field day on that....appeal, accept the results and move on,

All depends on how much Elliott and his team throw this one into the court of public opinion.

If she is shown to be a vindictive liar intent on ruining his career, the outrage will be minimized. Or at least you hope.

But if they have evidence that shows she is not trustworthy, they need to schedule grandstanding press conferences to point it out.

If they can't or are not willing to get that down and dirty in the ditch, then they really stand zero chance of much movement in this.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I have no doubt, that Zeke is paying for the botched Brown case. NFL screwed that case up royally and Zeke is the unfortunate recipient of the correction. I believe 2 games would have been the correct call.

Why does Zeke have to pay for something the NFL botched? Zeke is innocent. He didn't beat a girl up. Yet he has to fess up for what someone did and be the fall guy? Doesn't make sense.