NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has released a statement reacting to Judge Richard Berman’s decision to nullify the NFL’s four-game suspension of Tom Brady.
NFLPA praises collective bargaining following Tom Brady DeflateGate decision
“This decision should prove, once and for all, that our CBA does not grant this Commissioner the authority to be unfair, arbitrary and misleading.”
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"The rights of Tom Brady and of all NFL players under the collective bargaining agreement were affirmed today by a Federal Judge in a court of the NFL's choosing," the statement reads. "We thank Judge Berman for his time, careful consideration of the issue and fair and just result.
The union’s statement takes a celebratory tone, which was echoed by NFLPA Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs George Atallah on Twitter.
Players' rights win again.
— George Atallah (@GeorgeAtallah) September 3, 2015 Clear in the statement is the NFLPA’s belief that while Goodell was given the power to control discipline in the previous collective bargaining agreement, that doesn’t mean he’s allowed to abuse it.
“This decision should prove, once and for all, that our Collective Bargaining Agreement does not grant this Commissioner the authority to be unfair, arbitrary and misleading,” it reads. “While the CBA grants the person who occupies the position of Commissioner the ability to judiciously and fairly exercise the designated power of that position, the union did not agree to attempts to unfairly, illegally exercise that power, contrary to what the NFL has repeatedly and wrongfully claimed.”
The NFLPA also made sure to point out that this is not the first time this year that Goodell has had a ruling of his overturned by the courts. In November Judge Barbara Jones forced the NFL to reinstate Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice despite him being suspended indefinitely by the league, and in February U.S. District Judge David Doty ruled in favor of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and overturned the indefinite suspension handed to him by the NFL.
Other recent victories for the NFLPA include an arbitrator's reducing of Greg Hardy's 10-game suspension in July and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue reversing Goodel's season-long suspension of numerous members of the New Orleans Saints in 2012 for their alleged involvement in a bounty program.
“We are happy for the victory of the rule of law for our players and our fans,” the statement concludes. “This court’s decision to overturn the NFL Commissioner again should signal to every NFL owner that collective bargaining is better than legal losses. Collective bargaining is a much better process that will lead to far better results.”
NFLPA president Eric Winston put out a separate statement Thursday:
“I am happy for Tom, and it’s important to remember that when one player’s rights are upheld, it is a victory for all players. However, this whole ordeal has highlighted the need for players and owners to work together to make all policies fair and transparent for everyone in our game. I welcome an opportunity to have open and constructive dialogue with the league in the near future for how we can best accomplish that.”
The NFL has released a statement of its own stating that it plans on appealing Judge Berman’s ruling.
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