The NFL has told the NFLPA it is "willing to have someone other than Commissioner Roger Goodell make future rulings on player discipline but the league remains adamant that appeals of such decisions would continue to be resolved by Goodell or a person appointed by him," according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash sent a letter Sunday to the NFLPA after the league and union "met last week." Pash "expressed disappointment at what he called the union’s unwillingness to discuss 'any aspect' of the new conduct policy at that meeting." The letter suggests the league "views the union’s most recent proposal as potentially weakening the conduct policy." The proposal would "allow a player to be placed on paid leave pending the outcome of a criminal case only with the player’s consent." Pash’s letter also suggests that the union has "taken the position that discipline could be imposed at the completion of a player’s case only if the player is convicted of a crime." Pash wrote that such an approach "would be insufficient, in the league’s view" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/2). In N.Y., Bart Hubbuch writes the "small olive branch from the league" regarding Goodell removing himself from player discipline is "unlikely to go over well with the union." The NFLPA wants discipline and appeals to be "turned over to a neutral arbitrator" (N.Y. POST, 12/2).
AT A STALEMATE: NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir of External Affairs George Atallah said “until we get to a point where we have meaningful collective bargaining” on the issue of the personal conduct policy, “there’s not going to be any progress made on this issue.” Atallah said, “This union believes in accountability, and discipline has to be part of the collective bargaining agreement. If the commissioner believes it’s important for him to retain disciplinary rights, that’s something that the players are fine with. But the appeals have to be heard by somebody who is neutral and impartial, and that’s something that we believe is crucial to the process." Atallah noted if the league announces a new policy by the Super Bowl, “that is something the players will reject" (“Outside The Lines,” ESPN2, 12/1). NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said, “It would be fair to say the players are losing patience. It's been several months since the commissioner came out and said everything is on the table but at the same time it's been nearly a month and they have not responded to a proposal from the players on how to address this issue in a fair and positive and constructive way (“Charlie Rose,” PBS, 12/2).
