Will NFLPA sue NFL over allegation of victim-shaming?

[Doomsday101]

The legal battle arising from the Ezekiel Elliott suspension could spawn other courtroom skirmishes.

On Monday, the NFL made a stunning allegation against the NFL Players Association: “[W]e’ve received multiple reports of the NFLPA spreading derogatory information to the media.”


During a Thursday appearance on PFT Live, NFLPA executive committee member Lorenzo Alexander used the word “slander” in reference to the league’s contention. And that’s a word that catches the ear of anyone with experience in litigation.

People typically don’t use words like “slander” unless a formal claim for defamation of character has been considered. Whether or not litigation ensues, Alexander’s comment suggests that the union is at least exploring whether to defend its reputation by forcing the NFL to back up its claim with proof. And that’s exactly what formal litigation would do, permitting the NFLPA to ask tough questions about how and why the NFL came to that conclusion, especially since the NFL generated the 160-page report that has been leaked in dribs and drabs to the media.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...pa-sue-nfl-over-allegation-of-victim-shaming/

 

[csirl]

They won't bite the hand that feeds them.

 

[LocimusPrime]

No

 

[TrailBlazer]

Calling into question Tiffany Thompson's credibility is the exactly what the NFLPA should be doing. That's the job of any attorney. Roger Goodell wants to be able to say, "look what I did to Zeke, the criminal justice system wouldn't even charge him, but I suspended him 6 games without pay because i hate domestic violence more than you."

 

[links18]

On what grounds? I don't see a case. It sure is getting nasty though and I am a little surprised to see the union go to bat for someone who has been labeled a "woman beater." He better darn well be innocent though if they are going to push it, because trashing a "victim" is a dangerous strategy if there is a chance you are wrong.

 

[Doomsday101]

On what grounds? I don't see a case. It sure is getting nasty though and I am a little surprised to see the union go to bat for someone who has been labeled a "woman beater." He better darn well be innocent though if they are going to push it, because trashing a "victim" is a dangerous strategy if there is a chance you are wrong.

You may be right but I don't see where trashing the accused whom even the courts did not have a case is any better. If the NFL does not have the play by the rules of the justice system (innocent until proven guilty) then why should the NFLPA be held to that standard?

 

[casmith07]

I'm somewhat surprised that an actual representative of the NFLPA would use the word "slander" publicly, to be honest. As the article says - you don't just go throwing that word around without knowing what it means, specifically because of how difficult it is to prove.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

The NFL is good at slandering lately. About time they get called on it.

 

[Longboysfan]

They won't bite the hand that feeds them.

But they should slap the face of the doofus in charge of the NFL to bring him back to reality.

 

[erod]

No, they won't because Zeke is too unpredictable.

 

[beacamdim]

They won't bite the hand that feeds them.

This.

Plus they would never win.

The NFLPA always talks a good game. Rarely plays one.

 

[Plumfool]

While slander is hard to prove it's interesting how the NFL forgets how they themselves operate. At the very least the NFLPA is telling the NFL to watch their mouths.

 

[Idgit]

They won't bite the hand that feeds them.

Oh, they most certainly will. They have a contract, and one the players are going to be increasingly unhappy with as this plays out unfairly regarding one of their own. The NFLPA pretty much *has* to take a stand here.

If they don't, they get run out of town before the next CBA even comes up. And it's all the league's fault for inviting it, and then making the stupid accusation publicly in the press.

 

[Idgit]

While slander is hard to prove it's interesting how the NFL forgets how they themselves operate. At the very least the NFLPA is telling the NFL to watch their mouths.

They don't need to prove it. It's enough to get the league in a position where they can ask them embarrassing questions about their process here.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Oh, they most certainly will. They have a contract, and one the players are going to be increasingly unhappy with as this plays out unfairly regarding one of their own. The NFLPA pretty much *has* to take a stand here.

If they don't, they get run out of town before the next CBA even comes up. And it's all the league's fault for inviting it, and then making the stupid accusation publicly in the press.

If they don't fight it every single player is going to be at risk just by an accusation alone. This isn't just about Zeke it's about all of them. If they're not going to protect their players than what good are they?

 

[Idgit]

If they don't fight it every single player is going to be at risk just by an accusation alone. This isn't just about Zeke it's about all of them. If they're not going to protect their players than what good are they?

Exactly. That's why I have such a hard time figuring out what the hell the league thought they were doing here. As much as I hate the word, the optics here are terrible. You want to take a stand on DV, do it on one of many cases where the direct evidence is available, the circumstantial evidence is a hell of a lot clearer, and the victim is less-than-dispicable. The fact alone that she publicly threatened to ruin his career and publicly mentioned race ought to have made this case one you issue a fine or a very light suspension on quickly and get it the hell behind you. Or, better yet, you let it drop back when the police did.

They basically picked a poster-child for Commissioner abuse, on the league's most popular team with a powerful and opinionated owner, made sure the person launching the allegations were as not-credible as humanly possible, and then threw the book at him.

It's like they wanted this to happen, but why the hell would they want it to happen? They think giving up the Commissioner's suspension powers is something they can trade for a brick they really do want in the next CBA? I can't even imagine what they think the end game is here and how it plays out positively for them.

 

[links18]

You may be right but I don't see where trashing the accused whom even the courts did not have a case is any better. If the NFL does not have the play by the rules of the justice system (innocent until proven guilty) then why should the NFLPA be held to that standard?

It's the standard of public opinion that counts right now more than anything.......

 

[dragon_mikal]

If they don't fight it every single player is going to be at risk just by an accusation alone. This isn't just about Zeke it's about all of them. If they're not going to protect their players than what good are they?

They're too busy deciding whether to kneel during the national anthem.

 

[texbumthelife]

You'd have to explain to me how stating facts, such as her text messages, amounts to defamation, particularly where the NFL has called Zeke a woman beater and publicly denounced him.

 

[ConstantReboot]

On what grounds? I don't see a case. It sure is getting nasty though and I am a little surprised to see the union go to bat for someone who has been labeled a "woman beater." He better darn well be innocent though if they are going to push it, because trashing a "victim" is a dangerous strategy if there is a chance you are wrong.

Trashing the women who has no credible is not trashing her. Your telling the truth.