NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash addressed comments from attorney Rusty Hardin, who represents suspended Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, concerning the NFL penalizing his client above the penalties doled out by the justice system. Pash: “What is a matter for the criminal justice system and what is a matter for a private employer, which has outlined very clear standards of conduct, have been recognized in many, many settings as being entirely different. ... This wasn't something where reasonable people were disagreeing. ... Mr. Peterson, not Roger Goodell, signed a paper acknowledging ‘I am criminally responsible.’” Pash also addressed the notion the league is overcompensating with Peterson following its handling of the Ray Rice case. Pash: "What has completely been lost here ... is that a critical component of what the commissioner did yesterday was to put in place a program that will help Mr. Peterson succeed. It will help him extend his career. We're not trying to end his career." Pash said, "One thing that Commissioner Goodell is absolutely committed to is to upholding not only the reputation of the league, but upholding the reputation of the thousands of men who play in the league and who are good, hard-working, decent, law-abiding citizens." Pash also said that having Goodell as the “judge and jury” on discipline matters in the league is “important not only to the league and the owners, it's important to the players. I say that because it is important to NFL players that there be uniform standards, that there be high standards." Pash: "You cannot outsource your reputation.”
BROADER SOCIETAL ROLE FOR NFL? Pash noted this “is not a case of some sort of NSA-type operation peeking into people's homes and reviewing how they discipline their children. It’s a case where there was a violation of the criminal statutes of the state of Texas and it was fully appropriate for the NFL to impose some discipline pursuant to the process that was collectively bargained. ... I think this has been handled in a way that is entirely consistent with how these kinds of matters have been handled for decades.” Pash said of the domestic violence policy and what role the league plays in society, “We're not prepared right now to hold ourselves up as the paragon for all of society, but we do think that the NFL has a role to play. We can set a good example both within the NFL and for a broader society, and one of the things that we've always understood and we've learned more about in the last couple of months is that people really do look to the NFL to help lead and to be in a vanguard of social change" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 11/19).
OPINIONS ABOUND: National Domestic Violence Hotline CEO Katie Ray-Jones yesterday said that she "approved of the message" sent by Goodell. Ray-Jones: "He’s trying to undo many years of attitudes about domestic violence in professional sports surrounding their athletes and how they should react to it. To be honest, he’s said they made a lot of mistakes in the past and they want to do it right. With this, I felt like they’re taking this very seriously" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/19). But in Tampa, Tom Jones writes under the header, "Time For NFL's Roger Goodell To Go." Goodell "has lost so much credibility, it's hard to trust any of his decisions." Does he believe that his "brand of justice is what is best, or is he merely stumbling through the day with a finger in the air trying to find out which way the winds of approval are blowing?" Jones: "We don't know the answer, and because of that, it is time for a change" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/20). In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik writes it is "not easy to take the side of a child abuser, but the NFL’s botched handling of the Adrian Peterson case makes it possible." Goodell "is so concerned about appeasing special-interest groups, whose motives are understandable, he has completely lost his moral compass" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/20). In L.A., Bill Dwyre writes perhaps the most interesting part of the "Peterson kerfuffle is that it really won’t matter." Dwyre: "Will NFL TV ratings go down? Of course not. ... The messages of social significance being sent by Goodell and the NFL, about which both the NFL and we in the media like to pontificate, is a lot of hot air" (L.A. TIMES, 11/20). ESPN’s Dan Le Batard said Goodell "clearly has a bias here." Le Batard: "Why is he still making this decision? He shouldn’t be” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 11/19).
PETERSON APPEALS: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport cites a source as saying that the NFLPA today "filed its appeal" on behalf of Peterson. The union's argument "is that the NFL did not act in a way consistent with the CBA's due process." The NFLPA also has "demanded a neutral arbitrator oversee the process," but that decision is up to Goodell, who would hear the appeal (NFL.com, 11/20).
NFL SENDS OUT PSA: The AP's Barry Wilner reported the NFL yesterday sent a 17-minute video to high school and college coaches nationwide to "encourage them to be aware of and act against domestic violence and abuse." The video "includes strong messages" from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin; NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, former NFLer Joe Ehrmann and Rocori High School (Minn.) coach Mike Rowe. NFL Dir of Player Engagement & Education Deana Garner: "We recognize the incredible influence coaches can have on their players and how football can be used as an educational tool to affect change." Wilner noted the video "is being distributed to high school football coaches" by USA Football, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the American Football Coaches Association and the High School Player Development program. More long-term plans "will focus on expanding existing educational programming and awareness efforts, including age-appropriate character development; healthy relationship education, as well as dating/domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault education for those who play, coach, or manage the game in college, high school and youth football programs" (AP, 11/19).
