NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said the process that the NFL has employed since the beginning of the season on domestic violence issues "has been arbitrary, inconsistent, uneven and inconsistent” with the CBA in terms of meting out discipline to the players in the league. Smith, in response to the NFL's suspension of Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, said the union’s position "first and foremost always stands on process." Smith said that is "what our union is here to do on behalf of our players and you get the feeling” the league “over the last few months has simply been making it up as they go along." He added, "And that is something that is not in the best interest of the game, certainly not in the best interest of the players and I know not in the best interest of our sponsors.” Smith said in terms of how they will appeal the Peterson ruling, “It will take a little bit of time for us to craft what our legal arguments are." He added, "I know that there is a growing gap between the players and the league office, and that shouldn’t be." Smith said the "focus this morning should be on why they failed to engage in a process that has been customary in the past” and why “we are constantly in a situation where the rules seem to be created for convenience rather than rules being created for consistency and process" (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 11/18).
