Discussions to change the NFL's much-maligned disciplinary appeals process are reportedly underway. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported that the NFL Players Association submitted a plan on a new appeals process earlier this year that would remove Goodell as the central authority figure.
The NFLPA reportedly has a plan to reduce Roger Goodell’s role in the appeals process
The NFLPA reportedly submitted a proposal earlier this year that would remove Goodell as the central figure of authority in appeals.
Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
The proposal calls for a singular person to be arbitrator during appeals. It does not say who that person would be or how he or she would be chosen.
Goodell said a couple of weeks ago in an interview with ESPN’s Mike & Mike that he’s “open to changing his role” in regard to player discipline. Currently, the commissioner has absolute power to impose discipline and designate the arbiter to handle any appeal regarding conduct that is deemed detrimental to the integrity of the game of football, according to Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement.
That provision has been the crux of the NFL's legal argument in its ongoing case against Tom Brady. A federal judge in New York overturned the league's four-game suspension of Brady for his alleged role in DeflateGate earlier this month, but the NFL quickly filed an appeal.
Some NFL owners have spoken out and expressed an interest in altering the league's disciplinary process in the wake of the DeflateGate saga. Not so shockingly, Patriots president Jonathan Kraft has suggested changing the personal conduct policy to take full authority away from the commissioner. But other owners, such as the Falcons' Arthur Blank, have expressed similar sentiments.
The Brady ruling is the latest of several high profile disciplinary cases the NFL has lost. The Bountygate player penalties, as well as the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson suspensions, were all overturned. An arbitrator reduced Greg Hardy's suspension this summer, too.
Up until this point, La Canfora says little progress has been made in negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. One of the hold ups is that the NFLPA is reportedly opposed to tying in an alteration of the disciplinary policy to an extension of the CBA, which expires in 2020.
So though the conversation on changing the way the NFL handles discipline has begun, it may be a while before any progress is made.
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