Hatchetman Goodell Retains Discipline Powers
August 4th, 2011
The Aqib Talib saga has now taken what possibly could be a sad turn for Bucs fans. Power-hungry commisioner Roger Goodell has retained judge, jury and executioner rights to player disciplne as it relates to the league conduct policy.
ProFootballTalk.com delivers the news this morning, via Adam Schefter of BSPN. The issue was a negotiating point in the new labor agreement, and it seems Goodell won out in the 11th hour.
So what does this mean? Well, in Joe’s mind, Goodell is not going to take any kind of swift action to suspend Talib for being arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon in Texas during the offseason. Talib’s trial is scheduled for March 2012.
Joe’s of the mind that Talib is nowhere near a priority for Goodell because Talib is not a big-name player. He may be around here. But nationally? Hardly. And Goodell has no pressure on him to do anything.
If you think who the player is doesn’t make a difference, then Joe has swamp land to sell you.
Plus, considering there is no hard evidence available to Goodell that reveals Talib used a gun at his sister’s house, if Goodell is a remotely reasonable person, he’ll have to let the courts play out the case before issuing any judgement against Talib — much like was done when Talib slugged a defenseless cab driver in 2009, as the guy drove down the highway. Goodell waited to see how the case played out, and Talib was suspended for opening day of 2010.
Then there’s that sticky potential complication of Goodell’s right to suspend a player when he wasn’t under contract during the asinine lockout.
Of course, there’s always a slim chance Talib goes to talk to Goodell and cuts a deal with the hatchetman.
August 4th, 2011 at 10:45 am
I think the chances of him being suspended in 2011 are very, very small.
The chances of him being suspended in 2012, regardless of how his trial turns out, are very, very high.
August 4th, 2011 at 10:50 am
“I think the chances of him being suspended in 2011 are very, very small.
The chances of him being suspended in 2012, regardless of how his trial turns out, are very, very high.”
Sorry Matt I disagree. Talib did not work for the NFL at the time (Lockout) so legally he has no standing.
August 4th, 2011 at 10:59 am
I still haven’t read anything on if Goodell can punish players who did things during the lockout. Has anyone seen the fineprint yet?
August 4th, 2011 at 11:06 am
I just don’t see a suspension in 2011 for Talib. At least not for the first 3/4 of the season. If it happens. Oh well. Good bye, Talib. Can’t really say it would sadden me, though. Him and Ruud have been the arguing points for many. To not have to hear anymore whining about them would be great. Of course, then McCoy would be the next guy everyone jumps on, or Joseph, or Black….
August 4th, 2011 at 11:09 am
I agree with Joe, based on the facts of this case no suspension is warranted.
If he did shoot a gun, it was toward a scumbag anyhow. I imagine a Texas jury might agree.
Note to Goodell, an arrest is not a conviction. You can’t do a proper investigation while a case is pending because the defendant wont testify.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:11 am
@Atrain WD40 He can do whatever he want’s as far as suspensions. So can the teams. A lockout doesn’t mean they aren’t employed, it just means the NFL wasn’t opening its doors. Work was still being done and the NFL was still collecting revenue. The players still had jobs, they were just not on the schedule for summer.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:19 am
JOE
Nationally speaking, WHO IS TANARD JACKSON?????
August 4th, 2011 at 11:23 am
Mauha Deeb:
If that were true players would not have been denied they’re workout and other bonuses which they were. Either your employed and recieving your PAY or your not.
The majority of Labor lawyers i’ve heard speak on the topic state its a no mans land that has not been challenged yet and could result in multiple individual lawsuits not covered in the CBA
August 4th, 2011 at 11:42 am
@MVPFreeman That’s different, TJ was a drug violation, which is clearly spelled out in the CBA.
@AtrainWD40 Goodell doesn’t need standing legally. If Talib is convicted, or fined, or probationed, or whatever after his 2012 trial, he will have been convicted on NFL time. And he’ll get suspended for it.
Maybe, MAYBE if he comes off 100% clean he’ll be okay, but I highly doubt that.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:43 am
How does a player receive a workout bonus if they did not workout or work?
If a person is employed and is not needed, a business has no legal obligation to provide work or money for that employee unless stated in a contract or written agreement, and workout bonuses are only payed when a player workouts as stipulated. There was nothing in the contracts that said a team couldn’t ban a player from working out e.g. lockout, player fails physical, shows up to camp 400lbs and is let go.(In the players contract their are a litany of options and ways a team can go without paying an employee)
A lockout is a work stoppage, not a firing or release of players or teams from their contracts.
If they are employed, it does not mean they are actively working. It just means that the business recognizes that person to be affiliated with the business. Even when people clock out and go home for the day, they are still employees of a company even though they are not working for that company at the time.
The possibility of a lockout or complete closure of the NFL, for whatever reason, is worked into every player contract and initial hiring. If it wasn’t, there would have never been a lockout because teams would be on the line to pay players regardless if there was no NFL season/offseason etc. All that fine print “Sign here…. aaaand here… initial here…… sign and date here with a hyphenated initial here… sign your name in German, here while reciting the pledge of allegiance in pig Latin here…. rub you stomach and pat your head here…..) means something important.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:57 am
Joe,
Im a military guy and i have front row tickets behind the bucs bench “ROW 1 BABY” for the chiefs game. Are you going to be thier it would be cool to meet you. Hope the team is in a friendly mood my 9 year old is really excited and hopeing to get some autographs or high 5′s! 15 years in the Army and I finally get to go to a BUCS game!
And on the Talib thing, If you do the crime you do the time!
August 4th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Eric: spoken like a true crim defense atty.
Joe: talib is a big name, maybe the biggest, when it comes to problem players.
Eric may be correct, that this arrest alone should not warrant discipline, but it is Talib’s history, the arrest and obvious lying to the authorities that require discipline. I belive that the state will obtain conviction(s).
August 4th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Even on this website Joe has put many quotes that point to the fact that there is no physical evidence and all but the “Victum” Say Talib never had a gun in his hands. Furhtermore, the only reason this is still ongoing is the fact that Texas is 15 months behind in theyre criminal cases… How many times has Talibs lawyer tried to speak to the assistant da in this case only to be told they havent even looked at it yet.
Presumed innocent people
August 4th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Heard an very interesting and informative discussion on NFL Network a few weeks ago in relation to some of the players hinting that Goodell’s decisions on discipline might be race related. Not positive on who the hosts were but I think it was Rich Eisen, Solomon Wilcox and Sterling Sharpe and they laid out the process of how it’s determined if a qualifying action has taken place and who reviews and recommends disciplinary action being taken (and the length of it) before it even gets to the commissioner. Basically they were saying the race issue was an uniformed argument by the players because almost everyone involved in the decision BESIDES the commissioner was black (their words, not looking to offend anyone). Very interesting discussion that made me glad I don’t have Brighthouse. LOL
August 4th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Joe here,
@MVPFreeman — As was stated by another commenter, Tanard Jackson’ substance violations and subsequent suspensions are not Goodell’s discretion — apples and oranges.
August 4th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Joe here,
@ArmyBuc — Joe won’t be in KC next week. Sorry dude, would have definitely let you buy Joe a beer. 🙂
August 4th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
I think Big Ben would agree that race is not the issue.
August 4th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Joe,
definitely would have!
August 4th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@McBuc,
Funny you say that because I think the discussion was in response to James Harrison’s comments, among others.
August 4th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I think the NFL needs to be real careful here about setting a precedent. Right now there is no evidence at all against Talib except the statement given by a felon. If Mr. Goodell punishes Talib now, what would stop someone from falsely (but not able to be proven either way) accusing a star athlete, weeks before a big game, to make sure he won’t be able to play in it.
Unless the evidence is overwhelming, the Commish MUST NOT take action until the courts have ruled.
August 4th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Raheem stole my wallet!
August 4th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Hilarious!
August 5th, 2011 at 12:32 am
“talib is a big name, maybe the biggest, when it comes to problem players.”
——-
Are you a f&^*!ng moron? So a guy that has been suspended a grand total on one game in his career is the biggest problem player in the league? WOW!!! Parish Cox, Big Ben, Pacman Jones, Donte Stallworth, Michael Vick, and about 100 other players thank you for that stupid comment. Excuse my french, but what the f&*K is wrong with you? And you seriously wonder why people on this site can’t stand you and think you are a hater?! Do you even think before you type? Your act gets really old dude.