Union Appeals Rice's Indefinite Suspension by NFL

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-ABC News

By DAVID GINSBURG

The NFL players' union appealed Ray Rice's indefinite suspension Tuesday night.

Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in July under the NFL's personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault following a Feb. 15 altercation with his then-fiancee in a casino elevator.

The Baltimore running back had already served the first game of that suspension when, on Sept. 8, a video surfaced showing Rice punching Janay Palmer, now his wife, in that elevator.

Within hours, the Ravens released Rice and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to indefinite based on the "new evidence."

FULL story at link.



In this photo taken on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Baltimore. If Pierce keeps this up, he soon might be known as a premier NFL running back. For now, the third-year pro carries this label: The Man Who Replaced Ray Rice.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/union-appeals-rices-indefinite-suspension-nfl-25552660

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Edit: The union is going to open up the question through the process what did the NFL know and when did they know it?

[NYC_SKP]

1. Well, sorry to say, this is not what I would call a respectable call by a union.

But I guess they have to make the call.

When a player makes in a single year or contract a lifetime's equivalent of, say, an IBEW's pay, I am not sympathetic to their grievance.

YMMV.

Thank you for posting, Omaha Steve.

[Omaha Steve]

2. From the edit after you posted your reply

This opens the can of worms most people want to see opened.

This appeal would have been voted on by the union governing board, NOT THE MEMBERSHIP.

OS

The NFLPA said that the collective bargaining agreement requires a hearing date be set within 10 days of the appeal notice. It also said the hearing will require a neutral arbitrator to determine what information was available to the NFL and when it was available.

While upholding the contract on this: The union, which had until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to file the appeal, added that under governing labor law, an employee can't be punished twice for the same action when all of the relevant facts were available to the employer at the time of the first punishment.

[NYC_SKP]

4. I guess that's a positive side to this, just heard it on the news in the car. Visibility.

Can't help, though, wishing it was about servers not keeping their tips instead of millionaire players fucking up.

I've no use for pro sports, none whatsoever.

Hang in there, OS, keep up the good fight and regards to Marta.

[rpannier]

8. I don't get why you are unsympathetic

They are arguing CBA issues.
Due process is governed under the CBA
Your bias against professional athletes aside, if the NFL can get away with violating contractual rights, what chance do most lower paid workers have?

[geek tragedy]

3. they probably have a decent case. not based on any defense of Ray Rice, but rather

because the NFL handed down a suspension, and then dramatically escalated the punishment based on a video showing what the NFL had been told.

Essentially, the NFL suspended him not for punching his intimate partner, but for embarrassing the NFL.

[rpannier]

10. Good Read

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24711519/nflpas-appeal-of-ray-rice-suspension-important-for-future-precedent

[Omaha Steve]

12. A great read

Thanks.

[Orsino]

14. I say let them hang themselves with any defense of Rice.

The ownership did plenty of covering up. Some sunshine might do us all good.

[kcjohn1]

5. Rice has very strong case

This arbitrary ruling by NFL is dangerous for all the players. Rice told them exactly what happened (he punched his wife). They gave him 2 game suspension. After backlash, NFL said they made a mistake, and they couldn't re sentence Rice, but going forward 1st time offense for domestic abuse is 6 games. But all of sudden, that same offense that he already was punished for, and they set future guidelines, is worth indefinite suspension?

Whatever you think of Rice, everyone deserves to earn a living. Unfortunately, the courts decided to go the lenient route. IMO when someone finishes a sentence or punishment, they should be allowed to participate fully in our society.

[LovingA2andMI]

6. Exactly....

The indefinite suspension will be overturned, as it SHOULD. One player, no matter how grievant in nature the negative action is, should be punished multiple times for the SAME offense. The NFL made a mistake on the initial punishment. That is NOT Ray Rice fault. It is the NFL's.

If I was Rice's Union Steward, I would be proud to fight this case all the way to arbitration if necessary, as a Woman.

[R B Garr]

7. I thought the current issue was that the NFL said they had not seen the tape

until just recently. Now that they have seen it, they imposed this stepped-up penalty. So the argument is now about when the NFL knew of and saw the tape. At least that's how this revised/stiffer penalty to Rice has been presented.

[rpannier]

9. That's what the NFL is trying to paint it as

Their problem stems from a couple of key points

1. (The most important) It was never in doubt how they wound up like that in the video of them exiting the elevator. He even admitted it. So to claim that the video in the elevator changed anything is a weak argument, in a legal setting.
The NFL had ample opportunity to fully investigate and whether through negligence, stupidity, arrogance of all 3 they didn't and people saw the video.

2. Applying a more stringent penalty violates the CBA. This is also extremely important. The altercation was never in dispute, there's nothing in the elevator to say the Rice lied. The CBA spells out punishment procedures under Article 46, Section 4. The CBA specifically sets out "One Penalty" for players under Commissioner discipline.
The commissioner gave one penalty, a 2 game suspension.

[bullwinkle428]

13. As sick as it makes me to admit, you are probably spot-on.

The main reason for the second punishment (banishment from the NFL) was based on the idea that Rice embarrassed his majesty Goddell. Not a fucking thing to do with the horrific act he inflicted on his fiancee.

[davidpdx]

11. The one good thing that could come from it is it could uncover what went on behind the investigation

especially how Goodell handled it. I tend to believe we are not getting the truth about the NFL's actions.

[libdem4life]

15. Don't care for football, but I do care about domestic violence. And it must be consistent.

And we must describe what is an offense...at least for the NFL. Is it a few punches and a black eye, does she have to pass out, or to the extent of the Rice situation.

These guys are likely up on steroids not to mention the fame and fortune and ego rushes on the field that come early in some of their lives. If they are immature and/or come from unhappy homes, it multiplies the danger for the wife/girlfriend.

Problem is that the only time this is discussed to any degree, is when there is "Film at 11" and cell phone recordings or the increasing camera surveillance.

The NFL knows which players beat their wives/girlfriends. The wives know. But it takes an embarrassing film to bring it forward...not a wife's physical condition. And like most victims, they don't want it out either. Nor do Social Services want to touch it because they seldom win. Either the wife backs out or the offender threatens to sue.