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WR Josh Gordon, KC (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Matt Waldman
- Start date
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
That's a fair point about when the original penalty was handed down. But typically the appeals process doesn't count as a "time served" so logically I don't think the NFL would have any reason to use May as the suspension start date.
Legally or tactically they may due to your points about Gordon suing etc. Although Cleveland sports radio is reportedly hopping with reports that Gordon is firing up the lawyers. Of course, sports radio is about worthless on this type of stuff a lot of times.
NJ
Footballguy
I'm still not seeing anything in the Substance Abuse Policy about a lifetime ban. Maybe the commissioner would be unlikely to reinstate a player after multiple indefinite suspensions, but I can't find anything written that specifically calls for a "lifetime" ban. Here is the exact wording:
Bigboy10182000
Footballguy
I'd be shocked if he played another down in the NFL
B-Deep
Footballguy
if you think he walked by a joint and failed this test you are not living in the real world.
I'd've been happy if Rice got a season, I'd be happy if the NFL and NFLPA were concerned enough a bout domestic abuse to spell it out in the CBA, they were not. How much time a player can practice matters to them, how much you get penalized for knocking a womn out not so much...
If you think Rice's suspension should be more than gordon's i agree, that just means Rice should have gone away for a long ### time. Gordon's punishment was very clearly defined, there's no reason that when this policy is being applied to others it should not apply to him
Johnny Bing
Footballguy
The other thing that no one knows is what was his reading was the day before or three days before? How do we know the low reading was not at the tail end, and was much higher earlier in the week?
No one will know the answer, but just looking at it from another angle rather than just saying he had a trace level in his system. It could have been higher earlier before the test was given.
B-Deep
Footballguy
And again, the message being sent is "it's ok Josh, rules do not apply to you, you are special!"
Someone should send the message
"Hey, #######, your job requires you to not smoke weed, don't be near weed, period no exceptions."
habsfan
Footballguy
This isn't really a football topic anymore but the hard part is stopping yourself from saying, "What are the odds that I'm going to get in this car with a bag of weed and get pulled over?" and doing it after you conclude that this sort of stuff happens to other people and not you.
Humans are funny that way. I should have unplugged the toaster before I fished out my bagel with a knife but I didn't. I'm smart. I'm careful. I'm not going to get electrocuted. That stuff happens to other idiots...
False Start
Footballguy
Has Soulfly paid off his bet?
The General
Footballguy
I don't have to hide getting caught doing anything I'm doing.
Totally Gordon's fault. He f'ed up, just saying it sucks that in a few years none of his "crimes" would matter.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
Employers from truck drivers to police departments to accountants will continue to test for it or prohibit it as a matter of personal conduct for years to come.
Yeah, I may not have been clear. I wasn't saying that Gordon would get credit for time served during the appeal process (when he was practicing and playing in preseason games). I was saying that I suspect that the arbitrator upheld the original one-year suspension, meaning that Gordon would be eligible for reinstatement on August 27, 2015. I'd be a bit surprised if the arbitrator's ruling said anything inconsistent with that.
I suspect that reports about Gordon being able to apply for reinstatement well before August 27, 2015, are likely not based on the arbitrator's decision, but are probably based on something said by some other league source. The league can, and sometimes does, reduce suspensions. That decision, IMO, would probably be made by Goodell, not by the arbitrator.
MoveToSkypager
Footballguy
Wait... did something happen?
BoltNlava
Footballguy
Smack Tripper
Footballguy
It is really inconsistent for the league to embrace alcohol with this policy in place
The General
Footballguy
That's true. They should in many jobs.
Playing wide receiver probably isn't one of them where it is as important.
timschochet
Footballguy
I don't understand why it's unreasonably long. I've used an arbitrator a few times in my business to settle property disputes, and even the simple ones take at least 2-3 months. Usually these guys are jammed with cases, and that's the reason for the delay. It seems to me that 23 days is a very short time indeed.
It just seemed long to us because we play fantasy football and it;s draft time. Otherwise, who would care how long it took?
timschochet
Footballguy
3 questions:
1. Is he paid during the suspension?
2. Is he paid for the preseason games?
3. Does this affect his contract with the Browns in anyway? In other words, if he had 3 years left on his contract, next year he'll have 2, etc.?
1. Is he paid during the suspension?
2. Is he paid for the preseason games?
3. Does this affect his contract with the Browns in anyway? In other words, if he had 3 years left on his contract, next year he'll have 2, etc.?
JaxBill
Footballguy
1. No.
2. Yes, for the ones he's already suited up for. But it's only a few hundred bucks a week, I think.
3. Good question. I believe that he'd have to be eligible to play in at least six games in order for it to count as a contract year, which would mean that if he had three years left before this, he'll still have three years left when he returns.
Last edited by a moderator:
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
1. No, he forfeits his salary
2. I believe players get small stipends during the preseason but their salary is divided by game checks.
3. Yes, he now is one more full season away from free agency - likely the biggest punishment of all to come out of this.
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Look, I support legalized pot - and I've never used it. But that isn't the issue.
Here's the situation: an employer comes to you and says,"Hey, we really like the work you do. We're willing to pay you $50M to do it for us over the next 6 years because you are so exceptional. But here's a rule of ours that you cannot break: we do not condone smoking pot. We will test you randomly whenever we please. If you are caught with even half the amount considered to be second hand smoke in your system, you will be fired on the spot. That is the contract."
Do you think you could manage to comply under those conditions? This isn't the government making the use illegal, this is a private company employing someone with the express contracted conditions - which all parties are aware of - that they expect someone working for them to comply with those contracted conditions. If you choose to work in that environment, you are subject to the contract and either choose to comply or risk termination. It really is that simple.
Why should the company then feel compelled to monitor your behavior constantly to ensure that you are complying with the contract? You entered into the agreement freely. If you know you have a weakness that may cost you the opportunity, why is it incumbent upon the company and not upon yourself to deal with that as necessary to make sure you do not risk violating the contracted policy?
timschochet
Footballguy
So regarding point 3, if he had 3 more years left on his contract, those 3 years begin in 2015?
DaveGrumbles
Footballguy
3. His contract is suspended as well. Meaning that during his suspension his contract is frozen and picks up where it left off.
Soulfly3
Footballguy
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Yes, you need to play in 6 NFL games to qualify as a season played. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm fairly sure that's the case. I believe that was the issue when Vincent Jackson threatened to sit out the season when - he had to come back by Week 10 or it wouldn't count towards his NFL service time.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I tend to agree. Gordon's lawyers presented evidence for something like 3 days and reportedly submitted a TON of evidence, if the arbitrator was going through all the evidence and testimony and checking it for its veracity, I could see how that would take some time.
timschochet
Footballguy
MoveToSkypager
Footballguy
timschochet
Footballguy
One more question- I assume that if you suffer an injury that ends up having you miss most of the season, but the team doesn't put you on IR (like Percy Harvin last year), you're still paid, right?
Concept Coop
Footballguy
Hopefully he gets help for his addiction and the league stops policing what natural plants--less harmful to self and others than alcohol--a player can invite into his body in his free time.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
Sure, but that's up to the NFL decide, and they just might conclude that it is worth testing for years to come. There are 32 conservative billionaires plus Mr. 'no proof needed' Goodell, plus some serious workplace liability issues.
opensourcebeer
Footballguy
Question for dynasty owners out there: Is Gordon a drop or will you burn a roster spot for the season?
PatsWillWin
Footballguy
VaTerp
Footballguy
Concept Coop
Footballguy
Curious about this part. What harm is a person more likely to do, to self or others, while high on marijuana?
B-Deep
Footballguy
AND REMEMEBER
the NFLPA is holding on for its own HGH baseline testing to try and get higher legal levels than WADA, but it was fine signing off on weed levels that are 1/10th of the WADA levels.
priorities...the NFLPA was fine with bashing weed users and even drinkers, but draws the line at HGH
so if the Gordon suspension is messed up, don't point only at the NFL, point at the NFLPA as well
If it's a football injury, yes.
If it's a non-football injury (e.g., you hurt yourself answering the phone), the team doesn't have to pay you.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Yes - if your injury was football related even if you are placed on IR you are still paid.
fridayfrenzy
Footballguy
The player is paid even if on IR. IR is more about the salary cap effects and roster management.
Concept Coop
Footballguy
PatsWillWin
Footballguy
Burn the roster spot, pray he stays out of trouble (doubtful), sell in a year when the reinstatement buzz starts.
Or hope you have one of these fantasy Matlocks in your league and trade him now.
