Zekes accuser not required to be at hearing

[Melonfeud]

I'd be thrilled if Zeke sued the nfl and it resulted them in having to disband the whole league over the illegal set up as the league is now.

Wouldn't that result in at least one season of no N.F.L.
Games played? Till they restructured?

 

[Melonfeud]

I'd be thrilled if Zeke sued the nfl and it resulted them in having to disband the whole league over the illegal set up as the league is now.

Hey, pretty sure this has been asked before but wouldn't that result in at least one season of no N.F.L. games played? Till they restructured it?,,,

 

[Hawkeye0202]

But that's not what the federal courts will decide. They'll decide if the NFL has the right to suspend him on this level of evidence, and the CBA says they do.

So what you're saying IF this goes to court and Zeke wins........the credibility of the CBA going forward becomes an issue? My understanding from the past is courts tend to stay as far away from CBAs as possible.

 

[Iron_Man]

Come on guys... This is the first step to the courts... We all knew that.

 

[Fizziksman]

Just something to chew on...

What if the league wanted to seem tough on DV because of public perception and high profile player. So they lay the law down but at the same time lay the ground work for said player to get suspension overturned in court. (Goodell and Henderson not speaking with Thompson, refusing to bring her or her documents into appeal etc). Could be overturned in court fairly easily under fundamental fairness so in the end...

1. League seems tough on DV
2. Zeke wins through court system so games played are not affected.
3. (And maybe most important) players remember this at next cba and give up guaranteed contracts etc to remove all powerful commissioner power.

It's one big giant long strung out conspiracy

yeah all of this is about number 3. Next CBA the players union is going to want to strip Goodell of this power but it's going to cost them. It is why Goodell is wielding his power they way he is, because it's going to force the CBA to make those concessions

 

[Hawkeye19]

Just something to chew on...

What if the league wanted to seem tough on DV because of public perception and high profile player. So they lay the law down but at the same time lay the ground work for said player to get suspension overturned in court. (Goodell and Henderson not speaking with Thompson, refusing to bring her or her documents into appeal etc). Could be overturned in court fairly easily under fundamental fairness so in the end...

1. League seems tough on DV
2. Zeke wins through court system so games played are not affected.
3. (And maybe most important) players remember this at next cba and give up guaranteed contracts etc to remove all powerful commissioner power.

It's one big giant long strung out conspiracy

I think it is far more likely that Goodell took the opportunity to make Zeke the poster boy for DV despite any evidence in order to win a PR victory with women's groups and gain some ground back in public perception after the Ray Rice debacle.

Zeke has (rightfully if he is innocent) fought every step of the way and in doing so is painting the NFL as an unfair and capricious employer...which has caused a different PR problem for them and pissed the NFL off (their tweets are exhibit A).

The bottom line is that human pride and ego tends to dig their heels in situations like this. The NFL will fight simply b/c it will cost them too much now to admit they got it wrong.

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

I've been asking this myself.


How did the NFL get her to cooperate with them to begin with?????????????????????


Did the NFL just use the courts information to get to their conclusion or did they work with her??????????????



So my real question is..... IS the NFL paying this girl to help them in this case???????????????????

I believe per her own words, she wants to ruin his career so I'm sure she was happy to cooperate. My question is, nothing is under oath when the NFL questions anybody. So basically anybody can say anything without any consequence no? I'm no attorney so if I'm way off please correct me.

 

[ksg811]

So what you're saying IF this goes to court and Zeke wins........the credibility of the CBA going forward becomes an issue? My understanding from the past is courts tend to stay as far away from CBAs as possible.

No, it wouldn't necessarily impact the credibility of the CBA. What a Zeke win would be about is Goodell overstepping the boundaries of the CBA and taking his perceived powers beyond what is acceptable.

There still needs to be fundamental fairness throughout the process, and the spoliation of evidence (withholding information, in this case the transcripts and notes from the accuser interviews) is arguably fundamental unfair since that's information was the key talking point in Zeke's discipline.

 

[lockster]

Ye

Wouldn't that result in at least one season of no N.F.L.
Games played? Till they restructured?

yes, but for the greater good, justice would be worth. Freedom and justice costs. I'm willing to pay my part.

 

[lockster]

Hey, pretty sure this has been asked before but wouldn't that result in at least one season of no N.F.L. games played? Till they restructured it?,,,

yes, but that's the price of justice

 

[diefree666]

I think it is far more likely that Goodell took the opportunity to make Zeke the poster boy for DV despite any evidence in order to win a PR victory with women's groups and gain some ground back in public perception after the Ray Rice debacle.

Zeke has (rightfully if he is innocent) fought every step of the way and in doing so is painting the NFL as an unfair and capricious employer...which has caused a different PR problem for them and pissed the NFL off (their tweets are exhibit A).

The bottom line is that human pride and ego tends to dig their heels in situations like this. The NFL will fight simply b/c it will cost them too much now to admit they got it wrong.

THIS. It is much more likely then conspiracy theorists like to portray things. It is always more the case to count on human stupidity, pride etc.

 

[lockster]

I think its both, and some more.

 

[erod]

you keep saying that; does not make it true.

all zeke has to show is that the evidence is very questionable and that for anyone to claim otherwise shows an agenda or bias that makes the whole thing a mockery.

Which is what we actually have here. There is a reason the DA never even filed charges; he knew (despite his claims recently) that there was NO way a court would convict Zeke due to what the accuser had done as regards lying and making threats of her own; and the contradictory so called physical evidence (how to tell the difference between what happened in her cat fight with another woman and what DV abuse look like)

He would be asked to testify, which could be ugly. All the information would be presented against him slowly and in detail. It would be very public.

Like I said, he'd better be innocent if he wants to go that route.

 

[erod]

So what you're saying IF this goes to court and Zeke wins........the credibility of the CBA going forward becomes an issue? My understanding from the past is courts tend to stay as far away from CBAs as possible.

Simply put, that CBA that the players signed gives the NFL absolute power, absolutely.

 

[cowboyblue22]

A few grains of salt for the masses to sprinkle on all this red meat.

My Lawyer Thought: The NFL does not have subpoena power, so they cannot compel her to appear at the hearing.

My Personal Thought: she's already accomplished her goal of putting Zeke in a bind, so she got what she wanted. Why show up even if asked?

she said she would ruin him and she has come pretty close

 

[joseephuss]

she said she would ruin him and she has come pretty close

I disagree. Getting suspended 6 games is nowhere close to being ruined. If he did nothing and just accepted his suspension and came back to play later in the season his life would still be pretty dang good. He would still go on to have a good career and set himself up for a large second contract. Ruined does not apply at this point and he still has a small chance of getting the suspension reduced. He'll be alight.

 

[diefree666]

I disagree. Getting suspended 6 games is nowhere close to being ruined. If he did nothing and just accepted his suspension and came back to play later in the season his life would still be pretty dang good. He would still go on to have a good career and set himself up for a large second contract. Ruined does not apply at this point and he still has a small chance of getting the suspension reduced. He'll be alight.

true as long as you don't mind being labeled a woman beater. I guess that means nothing to you.

 

[Chuck 54]

DUH....why would accuser be at appeal hearing. First, this is no court of law, so they couldn't require her attendance anyway. Also, they won't be hearing the case or evidence again. All Zeke is allowed to do in the appeal is present "new" evidence for why his suspension should be shortened. This is not like a court appeal where you get a verdict overturned or set aside. Zeke is toasted, unfortunately. He will serve the 6 game suspension or maybe have it reduced to 4. That's most likely the best possible outcome.

 

[Bleedblue1111]

Rothlisberger was never convicted or even charged with anything. Yet he was suspended by the NFL.

Nor was he labled a rapist by the league. They clearly labeled Zeke a woman beater. Unprecedented.

 

[joseephuss]

true as long as you don't mind being labeled a woman beater. I guess that means nothing to you.

Nothing I wrote implies that at all.