May25

NFL Inferno: Collusion charge indicates the NFL’s hands are dirty too.

NFL Inferno 2 comments

Yorkshire pigs wallow in mud at the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, Maryland. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since the NFLPA has filed a lawsuit against the NFL charging collusion, I’ve heard pundits saying that the lawsuit isn’t valid because the new CBA prohibits such actions from being taken. And that may be true, but lets look at this for a minute. Even if the lawsuit is prohibited by the CBA, that doesn’t mean that the charge itself doesn’t have validity, and that the NFL didn’t do exactly what they’re being accused of.

The NFL has been quick to make accusations and pass harsh judgement on others, and yet it seems here that the NFL itself is guilty wrong doing. I’ve asked the question before, who punishes Roger Goodell when he does something wrong? It seems the answer is it may be a Federal Judge who could punish Roger Goodell and the NFL for their wrong doing. Many are saying the players lawsuit will be dismissed due to an agreement in the CBA, but that’s not necessarily true, because sometimes you never know how a judge will rule on a given case.

And even if the lawsuit is dismissed, the arrogance of the NFL in this situation cannot be denied. They basically admitted to collusion by penalizing the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins for overspending in what was supposed to be an uncapped year. Since the CBA was signed I assume the NFL figured they were immune from any repercussions of taking this action, since they thought they couldn’t be sued.

A few owners like John Mara of the New York Giants brazenly flaunted the league’s actions against the Cowboys and the Redskins, all but admitting that collusion had occurred. As if to say yes we colluded, but no one can do anything about it. And all while the NFL was taking what could have amounted to illegal actions, they were dispensing a hard brand of punishment to those they deem as negligent violators of their rules, when the NFL was breaking rules themselves.

Some believe that Roger Goodell actually cares about player safety and that’s why he’s doling out such harsh punishment. As if his actions originate out of the kindness of his heart. But in my opinion Roger Goodell is merely playing an angle, and the actions taken are simply proactive measures to guard against litigation, more so than truly looking out for players safety.

The NFL is running a serious propaganda campaign, painting itself as benevolent and sincerely trying to make the game safer, but the reality is the NFL is wallowing in the same pit of mud as the people and teams that they profess to pass judgment on. The collusion charges clearly indicate that the NFL will put its own interests above the players, if it means billionaire owners can save a few million dollars.

Whether they win this lawsuit or not, what the players are really saying is, how can you (the NFL) profess to judge us, when you’re no better than those you are judging. If all the NFL can say in its defense is yes we colluded, but because you signed the CBA then you can’t sue, then that’s like a criminal knowing he’s guilty, but merely getting off on a technicality. Is that the best the high and mighty NFL can come up with?