Roger Goodell wants to use his dictatorial powers again, and there’s not a damn thing players can do about it

Roger Goodell wants to interview Clay Matthews, James Harrison, Mike Neal and Julius Peppers, the other three players named in the Al Jazeera report about professional athletes getting PEDs from a guy at a clinic in Indiana. It’s the one that Peyton Manning got ensnared in last year, and has since cleared his name. But there’s a catch. If those players don’t interview with Goodell before Aug. 25, they’ll be suspended until they do starting Aug. 26.

The commissioner is using his unlimited powers of player discipline, citing the old “conduct detrimental” clause rolled into Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Harrison told his Facebook followers on Tuesday morning that he was even drug tested by the league this week. He and the other players also submitted affidavits denying the use of PEDs and citing the lack of any existing or credible evidence, but the league rejected their affidavits.

All of this is unnecessary and heavy-handed. Charlie Sly, the man at the center of the Al Jazeera report, recanted his statement. And the league’s drug testing should determine whether or not the players are using PEDs.

The union is fighting the NFL’s demand for interviews with the four players, but it won’t get anywhere. Like it or not, all of this is well within Goodell’s authority in the CBA, the labor deal that the players and owner agreed to in 2011. The commissioner’s power was recently affirmed by the courts, in both the Adrian Peterson case and DeflateGate. In fact, the later case essentially signed off on Goodell’s power to suspend players for not cooperating.

Once again, there isn’t a damn thing the players union can do about it, at least not until 2021 when the two sides have to sit down and hammer out a new labor deal. But the NFL isn’t going to cede ground on the commissioner’s power so easily. If players are going to change that, they’re going to have to fight, and that will mean a strike and missing game checks, something they didn’t have the fortitude to carry out last time. (It didn’t help their cause that the NFL had a billion dollar strike fund of its own).

It’s unlikely that it’s going to happen in 2021 too, so you better get used to the idea of Goodell removing your favorite players from the field on a whim for some perceived infraction like not turning over a cell phone or denying him the chance to look a player in the eye, which is some antiquated bullshit that’s a poor stand in for the due process that got sacrificed in the last labor deal.

CHARLES IS BACK: Jamaal Charles comes off PUP list, will practice with Chiefs. Jamaal Charles is coming back to the Kansas City Chiefs.

JUST A RANDOM TEST: Pat McAfee’s random drug tests aren’t random. We see through this charade, NFL.

DEAD ARM: Colin Kaepernick is dealing with a “dead arm.” The San Francisco 49ers continue to wait and see on Kaepernick’s status for this week, but Adam Schefter chimed in. He says two sources described Kaepernick as having a “dead arm.”

NINERS LOSE ANOTHER QB: Thad Lewis out for the season with torn ACL. Looks like the San Francisco 49ers need to find another reserve quarterback.

GRONK DOWN: Rob Gronkowski was injured. But it sounds like it’s no big deal.

BRONCOS LOSE A LINEMAN: Broncos replacement for Malik Jackson now lost for season. Former Raiders defensive end Vance Walker will not be able to help the Broncos ease the sting of losing Jackson.

SNAPCHAT DEAL: Posting on Snapchat helped new Seattle DT Tony McDaniel get a deal with the team. Posting your travel plans can turn into a workout.

CAM SPEAKS: The GQ profile of Cam Newton is a must read. The Panthers quarterback opens up about everything from his crazy pants to how race factors into perceptions of himself.

There’s still plenty of time to get prepped for your fantasy league draft. Our draft guide has all the answers you’re looking for.