Fallout From Latest NFL Disciplinary Actions

There has been quite of bit of disciplinary news in the past week — Browns receiver Josh Gordon‘s one-year suspension was upheld, and the league announced a new policy directed at violent domestic offenders. Let’s take a look at some of the reaction to those maneuvers:

  • The NFLPA is wary of commissioner Roger Goodell’s punitive powers, and its statement regarding the new domestic violence policy announcement reflects that sentiment, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “As we do in all disciplinary matters,” writes the union, “if we believe that players’ due process rights are infringed upon during the course of discipline, we will assert and defend our members’ rights.”
  • Because the policy mandates a lifetime ban for a second offense, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks that many players could opt to fight legal battles regarding domestic incidents rather than accept plea agreements, as “complete exoneration” appears to be the only way to avoid such a suspension.
  • In yesterday’s statement regarding domestic violence, Goodell noted that he wants a mandatory de-activation and two-game suspension for DUI offenders but says that the NFLPA has fought it, tweets Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.
  • If Goodell had simply issued Ray Rice the standard four-game suspension for poor behavior following his domestic incident, this story could ended before it began, writes Jane McManus of ESPN.com while crediting Goodell for now acting decisively.
  • Following Gordon’s suspension for marijuana use, the union would like to have the league’s THC threshold raised, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1. While MLB’s standard is 50 nanograms per milliliter, and the World Anti-Doping Assocation’s is 150 ng/ml, the NFL adheres to a 15 ng/ml limit. As Florio reported in July, Gordon’s positive sample came in at 16 ng/ml, only one nanogram over the maximum.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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