NFLPA appeals Ray Rice's suspension

[Mr. Scot]

Per PFT (link)

 

The right call, or would the players association be wiser to stay away from being seen as defending a domestic abuser?

 

(fair or not, that is how many will characterize it)

[PandaPancake]

Appeal all you want would anyone pick him up?

[Panthro]

Defense lawyers have to rep murderers because everyone needs fair representation

[heel31ok]

Appeal all you want would anyone pick him up?

 

if he had played better last year the answer would be yes.

 

[PandaPancake]

if he had played better last year the answer would be yes.

That's a lot of heat. Looks like it's the Raiders

[chknwing]

[Mr. Scot]

Defense lawyers have to rep murderers because everyone needs fair representation

 

Valid, but this isn't a question of his freedom.

 

You don't have a constitutional right to play in the NFL.  And the success of the League is based in the good will of its fans, thus the need for the NFL to protect their image.

 

The NFLPA, while arguably less dependent on fan good will, does occasionally have to engage in PR battles against the League.

 

In light of that, is this a good move?

[Panthro]

They have to rep all players to the best of their ability

If they don't the players might not think they need them

[Mr. Scot]

They have to rep all players to the best of their ability

If they don't the players might not think they need them

 

Did they rep Rae Carruth?

 

[Panthro]

Did they rep Rae Carruth?

Seifert said Panthers owner Jerry Richardson decided to stop paying Carruth after consulting with team officials as well as NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Gene Upshaw, head of the players' union. Seifert said Tagliabue and Upshaw supported Richardson's decision.

Team officials said their move was based in part on a clause in standard NFL player contracts that stipulates that players must be able to perform services for their team. They also said that if Carruth is exonerated, he would get whatever money the team owes him.

[Mr. Scot]

 

 

 

Thanks.  I didn't remember and didn't feel like looking it up.

 

I know the generic pro and con union arguments (representing everyone versus protecting the lowest common denominator).  That's not really the discussion I'm looking for here.

 

Given the pretty much universal dislike of Ray Rice right now, could the union justify punting on this one?

 

And likewise, what do you do with someone whose public image is in even worse shape in Adrian Peterson?

[Wyank]

Right call.  New suspension isn't from new evidence.  Everyone knew he knocked her out.  The original suspension was bull crap for being too short.  The extended suspension was bull crap for suspending him twice for the same event and not even following the guidlines the NFL themselves put out the week before the video came out.  

 

it was a cluster fug from the moment the NFL under penalized him.  

[Mr. Scot]

Mind you, there is some speculation that the NFLPA isn't doing this as much to defend Rice as to attack the League and Roger Goodell over his handling of this situation.

 

Goodell is seen by many as vulnerable right now, and I think rightly so.

 

How does that aspect factor in?

[Wyank]

I wouldn't doubt ulterior motives.  Doesn't change that Goodell and the league fuged up from the beginning, making it easy for the crooked NFLPA.