NFLPA proposes neutral arbitration in personal conduct cases
If the NFL Players Association had its way, a neutral arbitrator would decide all punishments under the personal conduct policy – not just consider whether to reverse Ray Rice's.
The union sent a proposal to the NFL last week laying out its desire for neutral arbitration under the personal conduct policy the league is working on revamping, taking away authority in that process from Commissioner Roger Goodell, a person with knowledge of the proposal said.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the proposal wasn't made public.
The NFLPA believes the personal conduct policy, which Goodell has said will be changed in the coming months, should be collectively bargained. But the NFL has not categorized its meetings with union officials on the subject as bargaining.
Instead, the league believes it can implement changes and will seek players' input before doing so, not unlike the process it goes through before changing playing rules.
"The union had substantial input into revisions made to the policy in 2007," league spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email to Paste BN Sports. "We have sought union input once again in revising the policy this year and have had multiple meetings with the union to discuss all aspects of the policy.
"Discipline is one element but we are looking at a comprehensive, holistic approach."
In the past, Goodell has both meted out discipline and heard appeals under the personal conduct policy, which was implemented in 2007. The league agreed to let former U.S. district judge Barbara S. Jones hear Rice's appeal, which began Wednesday, because Goodell's reasons for extending Rice's suspension from two games to indefinite are at the heart of the case.
Goodell has said all options are on the table for changing the policy in the wake of his admitted mistakes in Rice's original suspension. But he indicated at last month's league meetings that owners are inclined to keep final authority in his hands.
"Integrity of the game is important to them," Goodell said Oct. 8. "They put that in the commissioner's authority, and they've maintained that over their history. They've maintained it in their constitutional bylaws, in collective bargaining agreements. I think they want to make sure that if it's affecting the integrity of the game, the commissioner has the authority."
The league did agree to expanded neutral arbitration in the comprehensive drug policy that was finalized in September.
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