Is Hardy taking the reduction or going to court?

[Stash]

That could be the problem. I don't think the NFLPA is looking forward to arguing for a domestic violence abuser in this climate.

I keep in mind who the NFLPA answers to - the players. Unlike the league, they answer only to them. Not sponsors or the court of public opinion. Union officers like Demaurice Smith would only raise their stock by going to bat for 'one of their own' in my opinion.

And this is a fight that needs to happen and needs to be resolved at some point. I think the NFLPA would very much like to take up this case, knowing that they have a great chance of not only winning, but gaining a victory in the fight to establish clear policy.

 

[Stash]

I have this feeling the NFL was going to reduce it to 6 or 8 games, and he said he'd appeal if they did. Then they agreed to a 4-game suspension if he didn't appeal.

I can't think of another reason why the NFL would rule against itself by this much.

I see it as a simple 'splitting the difference' between the original penalty of two games and the altered version of six games.

 

[conner01]

I think he announces today, and I think he just accepts the four games. (I actually think this might have negotiated in the background because I was surprised the league caved this much on their own ruling.)

The league didn't cave
The arbitrator said 10 games violated the CBA
They lowered it to 4 for the DV and conduct detrimental
I suspect he takes the 4 and goes on
The arbitrator ruling I think would be hard to overturn

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

That could be the problem. I don't think the NFLPA is looking forward to arguing for a domestic violence abuser in this climate.

The NFLPA, IMO, is more then willing to do this because they see this in broader terms. This is an opportunity to role back the NFL and Goodell's power over the players. The NFL views this as overstepping their authority and they are probably right. The fact that the media is playing this up the way it is will not dissuade the NFLPA from taking advantage of an opportunity IMO. The NFL is vulnerable here because Goodell is overstepping and if the NFLPA can win that in court, it helps them a great deal in future dealings, future negotiations on the CBA and it personally helps the folks at the NFLPA because they work for the players and if they don't do a good job, they can and will be replaced. JMO

 

[links18]

Isn't that a big part of what a joke the ruling is though? He's charged in a domestic violence incident - which the league had established penalty for. But in an effort to look tough to people on the outside, the league tries to change its' own rules and call it 'conduct detrimental' so they can change the penalty.

Anyone in any legal profession can easily see right through the league's attempted bait and switch on this one. It wouldn't take but 5 minutes to make that decision. And in all honesty, the league doesn't really have a solid case to suspend him at all, given that he ended up missing 15 games last year for a 'crime' he was ultimately not found guilty of.

Personally, if the NFLPA is taking up the legal fees for this fight, I definitely think that Hardy will do it. He stands to gain over $1 million in salary and in my opinion has little to lose. And, given the recent 'collusion' accusations, I think the NFLPA is looking for any fight against the league they can get.

That's exactly what prosecutors do everyday.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I keep in mind who the NFLPA answers to - the players. Unlike the league, they answer only to them. Not sponsors or the court of public opinion. Union officers like Demaurice Smith would only raise their stock by going to bat for 'one of their own' in my opinion.

And this is a fight that needs to happen and needs to be resolved at some point. I think the NFLPA would very much like to take up this case, knowing that they have a great chance of not only winning, but gaining a victory in the fight to establish clear policy.

Nice post Stash

 

[jrumann59]

Unions such as the Policeman's Unions argue for guys that have done worse.

 

[iceberg]

A decision was going to be made early this week and then we hear nothing. If you are going to court why delay?

man, how did we know all that we were missing before the internet?

 

[Bullflop]

I'm thinking (and hoping) Hardy decides to contest the four-game suspension handed down by the NFL. He indicated he'd do just that. I tend to believe that he will -- I think he's a fighter that will elect to give himself every opportunity to enjoy the greatest success possible this year. Getting that suspension reduced or eliminated entirely would definitely put him in an excellent position to accomplish some great things for his team.

 

[Plumfool]

Unions such as the Policeman's Unions argue for guys that have done worse.

I'm ashamed to agree with this.

 

[xwalker]

Isn't that a big part of what a joke the ruling is though? He's charged in a domestic violence incident - which the league had established penalty for. But in an effort to look tough to people on the outside, the league tries to change its' own rules and call it 'conduct detrimental' so they can change the penalty.

Anyone in any legal profession can easily see right through the league's attempted bait and switch on this one. It wouldn't take but 5 minutes to make that decision. And in all honesty, the league doesn't really have a solid case to suspend him at all, given that he ended up missing 15 games last year for a 'crime' he was ultimately not found guilty of.

Personally, if the NFLPA is taking up the legal fees for this fight, I definitely think that Hardy will do it. He stands to gain over $1 million in salary and in my opinion has little to lose. And, given the recent 'collusion' accusations, I think the NFLPA is looking for any fight against the league they can get.

It seems like the outcome of the contempt hearing would set a precedent on whether or not Hardy could win.

 

[joseephuss]

It seems like the outcome of the contempt hearing would set a precedent on whether or not Hardy could win.

That is possible. If he did announce today that he was fighting the appeal he could always withdraw his appeal at any time.

 

[Bullflop]

I'm seeing some pretty good arguments here for Hardy's decision to go either way. Personally, I'd much prefer that Hardy challenges that four-game suspension but there are some complicated decisions by the legal eagles lying ahead that might easily affect Hardy's decision. Looks like maybe we're destined to hold our water until later on.

 

[Stash]

I'm thinking (and hoping) Hardy decides to contest the four-game suspension handed down by the NFL. He indicated he'd do just that. I tend to believe that he will -- I think he's a fighter that will elect to give himself every opportunity to enjoy the greatest success possible this year. Getting that suspension reduced or eliminated entirely would definitely put him in an excellent position to accomplish some great things for his team.

I agree. And I hate the fact that even if he has just two games suspended, those will be two games against our most competitive division rivals.

It amazes me how a schedule that typically has us playing the Giants and Eagles twice in the last several weeks of the season somehow has us play both in weeks one and two this year...

 

[Bullflop]

I agree. And I hate the fact that even if he has just two games suspended, those will be two games against our most competitive division rivals.

It amazes me how a schedule that typically has us playing the Giants and Eagles twice in the last several weeks of the season somehow has us play both in weeks one and two this year...

Gotta say the same thought occured to me a while back. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the commish has a bone to pick with Jerry and that's his way of evening the score. It'd be hard to prove but it does look suspicious.

 

[RS12]

If I was an NFL player, and the union didnt bother to fight this, I would seriously wonder why I was paying dues.

 

[casmith07]

I haven't seen the ruling, but I think it's likely 2 for DV and 2 for conduct detrimental. Probably hard to overcome. Hard to overcome even if it's just straight 4 for conduct detrimental.

 

[Nightman]

If I was an NFL player, and the union didnt bother to fight this, I would seriously wonder why I was paying dues.

I haven't seen the ruling, but I think it's likely 2 for DV and 2 for conduct detrimental. Probably hard to overcome. Hard to overcome even if it's just straight 4 for conduct detrimental.

But that is still combining policies. The precedence for a DV arrest with no conviction was 0 games.That happened around 16 times.

The NFLPA and Kessler are already in the middle of a huge dispute with the League and should have no problem rolling Hardy's case into the fight. Hardy stands to lose 2.4m and 4 more games so it is worth fighting.

I would argue a compromise is order. Let Hardy take his 4 game suspension as a back dated 4 game fine with time served from last years time on the Commissioner's List. Peterson would also pay a 2 game fine and all the old cases would be resolved.

 

[AbeBeta]

If I was an NFL player, and the union didnt bother to fight this, I would seriously wonder why I was paying dues.

And if they chose not to fight it, I might realize that it was in my best interest to lay low and stay out of the news. Last thing Hardy needs is this case continuing to be part of the news cycle. He wants that stink off him before he hits FA again

 

[ConstantReboot]

Isn't that a big part of what a joke the ruling is though? He's charged in a domestic violence incident - which the league had established penalty for. But in an effort to look tough to people on the outside, the league tries to change its' own rules and call it 'conduct detrimental' so they can change the penalty.

Anyone in any legal profession can easily see right through the league's attempted bait and switch on this one. It wouldn't take but 5 minutes to make that decision. And in all honesty, the league doesn't really have a solid case to suspend him at all, given that he ended up missing 15 games last year for a 'crime' he was ultimately not found guilty of.

Personally, if the NFLPA is taking up the legal fees for this fight, I definitely think that Hardy will do it. He stands to gain over $1 million in salary and in my opinion has little to lose. And, given the recent 'collusion' accusations, I think the NFLPA is looking for any fight against the league they can get.

Very good points here. If the league from looking at the reports and evidence of his case found that he really did commit those acts of domestics violence they wouldn't have lowered his suspension to 4 games. There must have been something in those classified pictures to indicate they were comfortable with lower his suspension but still make it like they were tough.