Unapproached elements in the Zeke Elliott developments. NFL players brace for labor troubles

[CCBoy]

*(I am putting in my own words, what was taken from an article in the Corpus Christi Caller Time)


First off, don't be so uptight, as real NFL games will shortly be playing. Real games will be occurring this season; the year after; and the following season.

But clouds are gathering, following DeMaurice Smith declaring that there would be a work stoppage in 2021. That tossed out ammunition is not currently in effect, but the grenade was tossed out already.

He is serious, although...the players are steamed concerning certain elements of the 10-year CBA, signed in 2011. With a showdown now firmly projecting, following Smith being re-elected and now firmly implanted in his role.

Inevitable?

Players are becoming more educated in what needs to be done. They are growing in their knowledge of the actual power that they do possess.

Here is the cruxt: The stage is being set for a nasty battle. Although salary cap has risen from $120.4 million to $167 million per team this season as league revenue have increased from $9.3 billion to $14 billion this season.

Recently, the pendulum has shifted somewhat in favor of the owners during the last CBA negotiations.
That was Smith's first negotiations and when Roger Goodell gained his disciplinary power.

The enigma: The biggest thing that has to be taken from history is the players who sacrificed for free agency didn't benefit the way they are now. Today, good luck with that aspect...nothing tests player solidarity more than losing cash for cause.

NOW, enter Jerry Jones into a picture...

2021 seems light years away...Jerry, who just entered into the Hall of Fame, desires to come to the table before the existing labor pact Expires. Now?

Jerry is a member of the NFL's management council, who represent the league on labor issues. Jerry has stated that he believes much can be done to avoid a work stoppage in 2021. Best interest of ownership? Sure is. It is much easier to work through a problem without a constraint and urgency of a short time line.

As to the players, there are things that can be done now, that wouldn't require a four to five year wait.

The path can cut two ways...The NFLPA can ponder a strike or decertification. Decertification would allow the league to pursue anti trust legal options against the NFL. The league has re-enlisted the services of Bob Batterman. He is an attorney who specializes in labor issues and is known as 'Lockout Bob.'

The players aren't anticipating an early extension and also has a whole generation of new players who don't have a clue what may loom and the ramifications of labor strife.

So, how does this affect Zeke Elliott, now?

The last negotiated contract by the NFLPA and the NFL, overwhelmingly gave punitive power to the NFL Commissioner. If a label of a 'bad boy' can be touched with the legitimate label of drugs, domestic assault, or demeaning treatment of women...there really is very little that the NFLPA can do at present. Sorry, Dez, with much more considerations at work behind the scenes...you probably have to plead mercy and save face by being top shelf supportive of the league.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

EE's case is bigger than the NFL.

In 2006, Crystal Mangum accused Duke lacrosse players of raping her. Despite a mountain of physical evidence that showed the accused players could not have physically been there at the time of the rape and no DNA evidence of a Duke lacrosse player on her, Mike Nifong trudged forward and got DNA specialist, Brian Meehan, to lie for him.

Meanwhile the public opinion along with the media opinion was that the Duke players must have raped Mangum because they are male and she's just a frail woman who would never lie despite having a clear motive to do so (she was going to lose her child to protective services). They continued to bring up things about the Duke players that had nothing to do with the case and protected Mangum to the very end and used the 'victim shaming' card to further protect her.

And here we are 11 years later. A woman is accusing a man of battery despite no evidence that remotely proves he did it. And I will claim that the NFL is playing the Nifong role as there only claim for battery is meta-data of a phone (which still does not prove EE hit her) while never stating where they got the meta-data from. And further claiming that Tiffany Thompson was an eyewitness to her own accusation.

And despite the fact that she was caught, red handed, lying to police. She was caught, red handed, asking her friend to lie for police...she was never arrested for breaking the law.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And despite those facts and the fact she talked in detail of extorting EE, we still have people that give her the benefit of the doubt.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And now we have people that are angry about EE's team bring up these facts that directly tie into his case. They call it 'victim shaming' or 'slut shaming.'

But, here we are with people 'shaming' EE with stuff that has nothing to do with the case at hand such as speculating about drug use, visiting a legal pot dispensary (and not buying anything), speeding tickets, a punch thrown at a bar by an acquaintance of his, the St. Paddy's day incident, EE's sexual history, etc.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

We have clearly learned nothing from the Duke lacrosse scandal. Many of the people that accused and condemned the Duke lacrosse players claimed they were 'sorry' for doing so, but it's apparent that it was just a nice thing to say. Because if they were truly sorry, they would have learned from the Duke case. But they're not sorry.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.






YR

 

[RoboQB]

EE's case is bigger than the NFL.

In 2006, Crystal Mangum accused Duke lacrosse players of raping her. Despite a mountain of physical evidence that showed the accused players could not have physically been there at the time of the rape and no DNA evidence of a Duke lacrosse player on her, Mike Nifong trudged forward and got DNA specialist, Brian Meehan, to lie for him.

Meanwhile the public opinion along with the media opinion was that the Duke players must have raped Mangum because they are male and she's just a frail woman who would never lie despite having a clear motive to do so (she was going to lose her child to protective services). They continued to bring up things about the Duke players that had nothing to do with the case and protected Mangum to the very end and used the 'victim shaming' card to further protect her.

And here we are 11 years later. A woman is accusing a man of battery despite no evidence that remotely proves he did it. And I will claim that the NFL is playing the Nifong role as there only claim for battery is meta-data of a phone (which still does not prove EE hit her) while never stating where they got the meta-data from. And further claiming that Tiffany Thompson was an eyewitness to her own accusation.

And despite the fact that she was caught, red handed, lying to police. She was caught, red handed, asking her friend to lie for police...she was never arrested for breaking the law.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And despite those facts and the fact she talked in detail of extorting EE, we still have people that give her the benefit of the doubt.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And now we have people that are angry about EE's team bring up these facts that directly tie into his case. They call it 'victim shaming' or 'slut shaming.'

But, here we are with people 'shaming' EE with stuff that has nothing to do with the case at hand such as speculating about drug use, visiting a legal pot dispensary (and not buying anything), speeding tickets, a punch thrown at a bar by an acquaintance of his, the St. Paddy's day incident, EE's sexual history, etc.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

We have clearly learned nothing from the Duke lacrosse scandal. Many of the people that accused and condemned the Duke lacrosse players claimed they were 'sorry' for doing so, but it's apparent that it was just a nice thing to say. Because if they were truly sorry, they would have learned from the Duke case. But they're not sorry.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.






YR

This should be read at the appeal hearing.

 

[CCBoy]

EE's case is bigger than the NFL.

In 2006, Crystal Mangum accused Duke lacrosse players of raping her. Despite a mountain of physical evidence that showed the accused players could not have physically been there at the time of the rape and no DNA evidence of a Duke lacrosse player on her, Mike Nifong trudged forward and got DNA specialist, Brian Meehan, to lie for him.

Meanwhile the public opinion along with the media opinion was that the Duke players must have raped Mangum because they are male and she's just a frail woman who would never lie despite having a clear motive to do so (she was going to lose her child to protective services). They continued to bring up things about the Duke players that had nothing to do with the case and protected Mangum to the very end and used the 'victim shaming' card to further protect her.

And here we are 11 years later. A woman is accusing a man of battery despite no evidence that remotely proves he did it. And I will claim that the NFL is playing the Nifong role as there only claim for battery is meta-data of a phone (which still does not prove EE hit her) while never stating where they got the meta-data from. And further claiming that Tiffany Thompson was an eyewitness to her own accusation.

And despite the fact that she was caught, red handed, lying to police. She was caught, red handed, asking her friend to lie for police...she was never arrested for breaking the law.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And despite those facts and the fact she talked in detail of extorting EE, we still have people that give her the benefit of the doubt.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

And now we have people that are angry about EE's team bring up these facts that directly tie into his case. They call it 'victim shaming' or 'slut shaming.'

But, here we are with people 'shaming' EE with stuff that has nothing to do with the case at hand such as speculating about drug use, visiting a legal pot dispensary (and not buying anything), speeding tickets, a punch thrown at a bar by an acquaintance of his, the St. Paddy's day incident, EE's sexual history, etc.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.

We have clearly learned nothing from the Duke lacrosse scandal. Many of the people that accused and condemned the Duke lacrosse players claimed they were 'sorry' for doing so, but it's apparent that it was just a nice thing to say. Because if they were truly sorry, they would have learned from the Duke case. But they're not sorry.

Why?

Because she's a woman accusing a man (albeit falsely) of assault.






YR

The problem here, is that law enforcement already declined prosecution...and the repercussions by the NFL include more than a trial proceeding type format.

The punitive powers in the NFL Commissioner, by the negotiated Contract, gives him very broad administrative power in applying a generalized standard that it solely has the right to determine.

Due process exists only in a review process, that the NFL itself controls at present. To change that aspect, would require very extreme measures by the NFLPA and that likely will not occur on this specific finding and resulting reviews. Right or wrong, it is already legitimized by Contract.

Ask mercy and have Jerry in one's corner for the realistically achievable results. Not purely right or wrong. That's the ball game at present.

 

[CCBoy]

This should be read at the appeal hearing.

Appeal hearings are administrative procedures...and very difficult to win based on generalities. Specific denial actions are tough to prove way after the acts go down. Monetary results are often the directions taken. That is just the nature of the beast involving Union evoked procedures at present.

 

[CCBoy]

To me, resolution to the Elliott appeal has about a two week window for resolution or format then changing level.

 

[CCBoy]

I came up in the 60's. Please don't make this all just anger at process! State principals and how they are addressed presently, please keep things a discussion.

 

[casmith07]

I've posted before on this matter, and I'm generally in agreement with @Yakuza Rich, though I try to be a bit careful with my tone because of the seriousness of domestic abuse.

In short, I don't think Zeke hit Tiffany, and I think the NFL is absolutely trying to forge ahead with a case because of the profile of it. If you successfully suspend a dynamic name on the most dynamic franchise in football, you score all of the cool points with fans and the media...unless there are way too many plot holes in your own plan.

This will backfire, because the evidence isn't there. When even female sports journalists are calling it questionable, that's how you know the NFL's decision is wildly problematic. Many of the same journos who rode the Greg Hardy* train from start to finish are tapping the brakes on this one. I think that's significant.

*I still, to this day, believe that Greg Hardy did not abuse that woman. I also firmly believe that he is still an asshat and shouldn't have been on this team.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The problem here, is that law enforcement already declined prosecution...and the repercussions by the NFL include more than a trial proceeding type format.

The punitive powers in the NFL Commissioner, by the negotiated Contract, gives him very broad administrative power in applying a generalized standard that it solely has the right to determine.

Due process exists only in a review process, that the NFL itself controls at present. To change that aspect, would require very extreme measures by the NFLPA and that likely will not occur on this specific finding and resulting reviews. Right or wrong, it is already legitimized by Contract.

Ask mercy and have Jerry in one's corner for the realistically achievable results. Not purely right or wrong. That's the ball game at present.

In September 2016, the Columbus DA closed the case and cited the sworn affidavits that showed the following:

1. That Tiffany Thompson got into a fist fight with a random woman on the 21st.

2. That Tiffany Thompson went to EE's rental condo, saw a female by the name of Taylor Sandbothe driving him to the apartment and started threatening Sandbothe and before leaving saying that she would ruin EE's career.

3. That Thompson lied to police about the incident on the 21st claiming that EE yanked her out of her car by her hair and started beating her.

4. Texted her friend, Ayran Mason, to lie to police for her about that incident

5. That the bruises on her likely came from the fight Thompson had with the woman. 2 police officers and a bouncer all swore in affidavits that it was a fist fight fight. The only person stating that it wasn't a fist fight is Ayran Mason, who has stated that they were slaps being thrown, but she couldn't see everything.

6. There were 5 witnesses that stated that they did NOT see any bruises on Thompson and that they had seen Thompson prior to the fight and as early as the 16th.

It's pretty clear that the DA is basically stating in Sept. 2016 that he didn't believe Thompson and that those bruises came from the fight she had with another woman.

Yet when investigated by the NFL, the DA changes his tune and states that he did believe violence occurred on Thompson from Elliott.

The DA himself is trying to play the Mike Nifong game, except he's smart enough to not try and prosecute EE and go to any lengths to do so. But, this is a big reason why it's bigger than the NFL...we still have an issue with DA's and their blind trust of any female that accuses any male of abusing them.

In fact, the DA caught Thompson lying to police and tampering with a witness and never arrested her. She broke serious laws...twice...right in front of the DA. I know in Florida that witness tampering is a 3rd Degree Felony. Yet the DA in Columbus refused to do his job.

If some of these situations were reversed and EE was caught lying to police about abusing her, caught tampering with a witness and then caught discussing extorting her with a sex tape...nobody would be giving EE the benefit of the doubt.

And we many people here who think it's unfair to bring up the lies and the extortion talk, but find it okay to talk about the St. Paddy's Day incident, going to a legal marijuana dispensary and looking around and getting caught speeding and condemning EE.

And let's not forget the case for racial discrimination. Josh Brown got 1-game while Ray Rice initially got 2 games, Greg Hardy initially got 10-games and EE is getting 6-games.

All of this goes wayyy beyond the NFL.


YR

 

[RoboQB]

I came up in the 60's. Please don't make this all just anger at process! State principals and how they are addressed presently, please keep things a discussion.

Who's angry? YR makes a good point. Mistakes from the past are supposed to be lessons learned so as not to make them
in the future. Since you came up in the 60s, you should already know this.

 

[Doc50]

I've posted before on this matter, and I'm generally in agreement with @Yakuza Rich, though I try to be a bit careful with my tone because of the seriousness of domestic abuse.

In short, I don't think Zeke hit Tiffany, and I think the NFL is absolutely trying to forge ahead with a case because of the profile of it. If you successfully suspend a dynamic name on the most dynamic franchise in football, you score all of the cool points with fans and the media...unless there are way too many plot holes in your own plan.

This will backfire, because the evidence isn't there. When even female sports journalists are calling it questionable, that's how you know the NFL's decision is wildly problematic. Many of the same journos who rode the Greg Hardy* train from start to finish are tapping the brakes on this one. I think that's significant.

*I still, to this day, believe that Greg Hardy did not abuse that woman. I also firmly believe that he is still an asshat and shouldn't have been on this team.

The impropriety of political and image-related decisions that may damage an individual's reputation and revenue is bad enough.

The fact that competitive bias may exist that can influence how the game is played and influence its outcome by removing key players IMO elevates this case to potential landmark status. The sport in general can be tainted by the unchecked power of the commissioner, and this case is bringing that to light.

JJ is a paternalistic players' owner. In the twilight of his career, I think he'll take a semi-historic stand on this one.

 

[casmith07]

The impropriety of political and image-related decisions that may damage an individual's reputation and revenue is bad enough.

The fact that competitive bias may exist that can influence how the game is played and influence its outcome by removing key players IMO elevates this case to potential landmark status. The sport in general can be tainted by the unchecked power of the commissioner, and this case is bringing that to light.

JJ is a paternalistic players' owner. In the twilight of his career, I think he'll take a semi-historic stand on this one.

I concur.

 

[CCBoy]

Who's angry? YR makes a good point. Mistakes from the past are supposed to be lessons learned so as not to make them
in the future. Since you came up in the 60s, you should already know this.

Sorry, with the social violence that is rampant along with terrorism, things aren't to be sneezed at. Yakuza presents a discussion along with the points that he presents and walks the second mile...

but as to the 60's, we walked the road of attempted peaceful protest with dog bites and clubs...then there was the Black Panthers and La Raza outside of the 'criminal' elements. Coming out of Viet Nam, we had to change an entire NCO corp that only wanted to go to the bush and kill. Oh, I had to walk the course of nose to nose confrontations with disagreements.

Sticking to principals is American, and I have fought for the right to freedom of speech. But don't ask me also to ignore also, the emotional excusing of pure anger.

The legal aspects were negotiated away, somewhat, with the past contract. That aspect is being used now, and doesn't seem to also be recognized in the discussion as well.

 

[CCBoy]

I concur.

Where's the beef?

Now, the paternalistic tendency has to also be taken in the same view of Jerry Jones the Hall of Famer and his role to 'negotiate' as a member of the NFL governing committee. I'm sure that Jerry will be pushing for reduction in penalty.

But where is this lining up in the scheme of the big picture of a potential lockout occurring in about four years and the currently negotiated power of punishment that is controlled now by administrative action formulated by the Commissioner? That's where the battle presently is and not in identification of legal right and wrong.

Union associated administrative hearings are a different animal than local/state prosecutions...

 

[CCBoy]

In September 2016, the Columbus DA closed the case and cited the sworn affidavits that showed the following:

1. That Tiffany Thompson got into a fist fight with a random woman on the 21st.

2. That Tiffany Thompson went to EE's rental condo, saw a female by the name of Taylor Sandbothe driving him to the apartment and started threatening Sandbothe and before leaving saying that she would ruin EE's career.

3. That Thompson lied to police about the incident on the 21st claiming that EE yanked her out of her car by her hair and started beating her.

4. Texted her friend, Ayran Mason, to lie to police for her about that incident

5. That the bruises on her likely came from the fight Thompson had with the woman. 2 police officers and a bouncer all swore in affidavits that it was a fist fight fight. The only person stating that it wasn't a fist fight is Ayran Mason, who has stated that they were slaps being thrown, but she couldn't see everything.

6. There were 5 witnesses that stated that they did NOT see any bruises on Thompson and that they had seen Thompson prior to the fight and as early as the 16th.

It's pretty clear that the DA is basically stating in Sept. 2016 that he didn't believe Thompson and that those bruises came from the fight she had with another woman.

Yet when investigated by the NFL, the DA changes his tune and states that he did believe violence occurred on Thompson from Elliott.

The DA himself is trying to play the Mike Nifong game, except he's smart enough to not try and prosecute EE and go to any lengths to do so. But, this is a big reason why it's bigger than the NFL...we still have an issue with DA's and their blind trust of any female that accuses any male of abusing them.

In fact, the DA caught Thompson lying to police and tampering with a witness and never arrested her. She broke serious laws...twice...right in front of the DA. I know in Florida that witness tampering is a 3rd Degree Felony. Yet the DA in Columbus refused to do his job.

If some of these situations were reversed and EE was caught lying to police about abusing her, caught tampering with a witness and then caught discussing extorting her with a sex tape...nobody would be giving EE the benefit of the doubt.

And we many people here who think it's unfair to bring up the lies and the extortion talk, but find it okay to talk about the St. Paddy's Day incident, going to a legal marijuana dispensary and looking around and getting caught speeding and condemning EE.

And let's not forget the case for racial discrimination. Josh Brown got 1-game while Ray Rice initially got 2 games, Greg Hardy initially got 10-games and EE is getting 6-games.

All of this goes wayyy beyond the NFL.


YR

As to cause, you are preaching to the choir and I appreciate the merit in what you present. But the battle isn't being fought at Gettysburg, but outside the Port of Galveston...

 

[erod]

I don't see a work stoppage because:

1. Players only play 3-4 years on average, so they aren't going to sacrifice the prime earning years of their life for other dudes to come later.

2. I think the owners want out of the police game. I think the league will loosen the rules on off-field behavior and let the police handle much of it.

3. Marijuana will no longer be tested for.

4. See #1.

 

[CCBoy]

The impropriety of political and image-related decisions that may damage an individual's reputation and revenue is bad enough.

The fact that competitive bias may exist that can influence how the game is played and influence its outcome by removing key players IMO elevates this case to potential landmark status. The sport in general can be tainted by the unchecked power of the commissioner, and this case is bringing that to light.

JJ is a paternalistic players' owner. In the twilight of his career, I think he'll take a semi-historic stand on this one.

As he took a sabo up the posterior when the Cowboys were fined following the lockout...until proven otherwise, leniency is where I think Jerry will take current actions. His running back group are still able to carry the load up to six games.

 

[casmith07]

Where's the beef?

Now, the paternalistic tendency has to also be taken in the same view of Jerry Jones the Hall of Famer and his role to 'negotiate' as a member of the NFL governing committee. I'm sure that Jerry will be pushing for reduction in penalty.

But where is this lining up in the scheme of the big picture of a potential lockout occurring in about four years and the currently negotiated power of punishment that is controlled now by administrative action formulated by the Commissioner? That's where the battle presently is and not in identification of legal right and wrong.

Union associated administrative hearings are a different animal than local/state prosecutions...

They're very different indeed. Very similar to nonjudicial punishment in the military under the UCMJ -- if the Commander just "feels like" a trooper did the "crime", then he can be found guilty with the flimsiest of evidence.

I wish they would hire me to fix their system. I have a great idea that lives in a MS Word document on my computer.

I think the big discussions for the next CBA will be CTE and long term care for players post-career/in retirement, marijuana/cannabis regulation and testing, and of course player discipline.

 

[CCBoy]

They're very different indeed. Very similar to nonjudicial punishment in the military under the UCMJ -- if the Commander just "feels like" a trooper did the "crime", then he can be found guilty with the flimsiest of evidence.

I wish they would hire me to fix their system. I have a great idea that lives in a MS Word document on my computer.

I think the big discussions for the next CBA will be CTE and long term care for players post-career/in retirement, marijuana/cannabis regulation and testing, and of course player discipline.

Hoooah, Sir...and it still shall be done!

 

[Longboysfan]

I don't see a work stoppage because:

1. Players only play 3-4 years on average, so they aren't going to sacrifice the prime earning years of their life for other dudes to come later.

2. I think the owners want out of the police game. I think the league will loosen the rules on off-field behavior and let the police handle much of it.

3. Marijuana will no longer be tested for.

4. See #1.

The players struck for reason #1 in the past.