Representatives from the NFL and NFLPA are meeting in New York on Monday to discuss the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. Players have yet to be disciplined in the case and the NFLPA's DeMaurice Smith tells Pro Player Insiders that they want to be given an opportunity to see the full evidence before the NFL makes a decision on discipline.
NFL, NFLPA Meeting To Discuss Saints Punishments For Bounty Scandal
”Our duty is to view and understand the evidence and to ensure it is substantiated and concrete. We also have an obligation to ensure that our players have fair due process. It is not our duty to give recommendations for discipline in a vacuum without information or without consultation with our players. It seems as if this entire matter has played out primarily in public, with regard for the fairness of the process an afterthought.
“Our team will meet with the NFL today, ask hard questions and will expect to see all documents and direct evidence of a pay-to-injure scheme. That is what a fair process dictates. I will get a full briefing by our team and after that, the next step will be to consult with players about what was learned. Only then will we confer with the NFL.”
Really, though, the NFL makes the final decision. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the original ruling and he’s also going to hear the appeals. The NFLPA obviously represents the players interests.
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