Opening for Elliott? NFL investigator Kia Roberts recommended no suspension **merged**

[PA Cowboy Fan]

The way the league office did the dirty here they may demand it now. Citing that they feel no players is actually getting a fair shot. Think about it, after Ray Rice and Peterson imagine if they went back and asked for all the documents on those cases, maybe even Hardy's. If the NFLPA has any senior senators that are friendly on speed dial this could get very ugly quickly.

Never thought about that. Every case they've handed down has to be questioned now...can't believe anything they say.

 

[crazytown41]

This has become a joke and embarrassment for league's front office. But this kangaroo court will keep happening as long as that crooked Commish has full power. What a joke.

#FreeZeke

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

why go through the year long investigation if he can decide whatever he wants evidence be damned?

Has to make it look good. It's all PR. Remember when that rumor said a group of owners wanted Zeke suspended...well Roger is their patsy.

 

[viman96]

Wonder when BSPN will decide to report on this??? It was breaking news for three days that Zeke happened to be in a public place where someone got punched by someone else

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ase-made-challenge-ezekiel-elliott-suspension

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think it's a conspiracy against Dallas per se. It's a high-profile player that they wanted to make an example of to show their tough on domestic violence. They wanted to use Elliott as a scapegoat to cover for their past failures. The league should have made sure it actually picked someone it could prove committed DV first.

They could have done it with the Giants kicker and gave him 1 game. Backlash was so bad Giants cut him.

 

[HardHittin'Witten]

Goodell has to go. This is some bull****. Talk about a blatant lack of integrity.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I'd seriously like to hear from our lawyers on the board. What do they think of this recent development?

Does Zeke have a case?

One of the lawyers here... I think this is a great development. The standard on appeal is whether the league acted in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner or deviated from its standard procedures. If it was standard protocol for the lead investigator to be heard by the committee/commissioner before it pronounced punishment (which it likely was), and Friel barred Kia from being heard, this is a key point in finding that the NFL's decision was arbitrary and capricious. Goodell's power under the CBA is broad, but it is not absolute...

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

So Mike Fisher constantly bleating "Article 46!" wasn't 100 percent correct?

Shocking. (Not)

Article 46 predates the DV policy change. The player contract has had a contract provision in it longer than that. never understood taht argument.

Brady was an integrity of the game case. This is a criminal accusation. Brady had no analogous precedent. Zeke has all kinds of them most notably Brown and Rice.

That is the thing, Rice's suspension was vacated by a judge and his incident was post the conduct policy too. This Brady trumps all argument is just ignorant and you never really see anyone give more than the throwaway line.

 

[mkindred]

How am I a troll? Kia said no suspension for Zeke meaning he can play making me think Kia is a Cowboys fan, idiot

Deducing that (do you know what that means?) based on the evidence presented automatically makes you believe she's a Cowboys fan instead of a reasonable human being? Calling someone an idiot over that.. well.. you know what they say about throwing stones in glass houses..

 

[reddyuta]

One of the lawyers here... I think this is a great development. The standard on appeal is whether the league acted in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner or deviated from its standard procedures. If it was standard protocol for the lead investigator to be heard by the committee/commissioner before it pronounced punishment (which it likely was), and Friel barred Kia from being heard, this is a key point in finding that the NFL's decision was arbitrary and capricious. Goodell's power under the CBA is broad, but it is not absolute...

 

[jrumann59]

Never thought about that. Every case they've handed down has to be questioned now...can't believe anything they say.

No different than if a DA or police officer is convicted or accused of corruption, all the cases they were involved with would need to be gone over with a fine tooth comb. Because those folks that got put away, their lawyers are doing it.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Depends on what the CBA says. Does Goodell have the authority to disregard his investigator's recommendations and form his own opinion on the evidence? Probably. But, does that meet some minimum standard of procedural fairness in the context of labor discipline? Couldn't say.

Actually, it appears to be worse than disregarding a recommendation. The findings and recommendation by their own appointed investigator was being suppressed. The information was not allowed in the report and the investigator was barred from being at the meeting. I'm not an attorney, but that seems to be a suppression of information and a much more serious issue than simply listening to someone's recommendation. Especially since the investigator was the only person to actually interview the accuser.

Meanwhile back at the NFL League Offices in New York........

 

[viman96]

Zeke's lawyer...

 

[Teague31]

And Friel should never be allowed to be involved in a domestic violence case again.

This. In my experience the female domestic prosecutors are man hating zealots who would believe anything that came from a "victim"

 

[jrumann59]

Actually, it appears to be worse than disregarding a recommendation. The findings and recommendation by their own appointed investigator was being suppressed. The information was not allowed in the report and the investigator was barred from being at the meeting. I'm not an attorney, but that seems to be a suppression of information and a much more serious issue than simply listening to someone's recommendation. Especially since the investigator was the only person to actually interview the accuser.

Meanwhile back at the NFL League Offices in New York........

You need the big *** fan companies fan for what is being spread around now. Wait til Kia gets fired for this, things could be real stinky in the NFL offices.

 

[Animosity]

So someone is trying to screw over Zeke. Corruption at it's finest.

 

[jrumann59]

This. In my experience the female domestic prosecutors are man hating zealots who would believe anything that came from a "victim"

Not just Friel but at least one of the "independent investigators."

 

[viman96]

So someone is trying to screw over Zeke. Corruption at it's finest.

Link?

 

[Mr Cowboy]

 

[reddyuta]

at this point Zeke should go for complete vacation of the ban.