interesting Twitter exchange

[vancelot23]

About an hour ago, PFT posted a link to a story, wherein they say the NFLPA agreed to allow 8 players to be disciplined for conduct during the lockout. It is signed, per PFT, by De Smith. This was posted on Twitter. About 10 minutes later, George Atallah tweeted that the report that the NFLPA agreed to allow discipline to 8 players was false. PFT then responded by saying "George, I have the letter. De's signature is on it. He agrees to allow 8 players to be disciplined." Curious.

Here's the original link to the PFT story:

NFLPA agreed to allow punishment of eight players for lockout misconduct | ProFootballTalk

 

[vancelot23]

Also interesting is PFTs assertion that Benson should sue the NFLPA if his appeal is denied.

 

[flamingrey]

Also interesting is PFTs assertion that Benson should sue the NFLPA if his appeal is denied.

If it were agreed upon during negotiations and is part of the CBA, nothing Benson can do about it. And it would be foolish to do so.

Just like the 10 named plaintiffs in the case, they too signed off on whatever agreements were made despite some of them having named themselves to become unrestricted FA.

 

[vancelot23]

Benson will appeal his three-game suspension on Tuesday. The centerpiece of his argument should be that the league had no power to discipline him for actions occurring while he was locked out, and that the NFLPA had no ability to exempt him from the league***8217;s general position that players won***8217;t be punished for arrests occurring during the lockout. If that fails, Benson should seriously consider filing legal action against the NFLPA for breach of the duty of fair representation ***8212; especially since the reconstituted union has compromised Benson***8217;s rights based on events occurring at a time when the union wasn***8217;t a union.

This was the part where PFT talks about it. I assume he can still file any suit he wants.

 

[futballiscool]

I'm throwing this out at as a complete guess, but I bet the reason why only certain players are up for a suspension is because they were on a "3rd strike" type policy... guys like Benson, Pacman, Haynesworth etc were already told that they'd face a suspension for their next transgression before the lockout took place..


specifically (I'm sure) Benson had a face to face meeting with Goddell after the incident in Texas last summer where he was told there would be a suspension if something happened in the future

 

[vancelot23]

I'm sure you're right. The argument is that this transgression shouldn't count since the reason they weren't working instead of out doing whatever they want was that the league wouldn't let them work. Both sides have a point. I'm surprised the NFLPA threw even a few guys to the wolves so to speak.

 

[flamingrey]

Benson will appeal his three-game suspension on Tuesday. The centerpiece of his argument should be that the league had no power to discipline him for actions occurring while he was locked out, and that the NFLPA had no ability to exempt him from the league***8217;s general position that players won***8217;t be punished for arrests occurring during the lockout. If that fails, Benson should seriously consider filing legal action against the NFLPA for breach of the duty of fair representation ***8212; especially since the reconstituted union has compromised Benson***8217;s rights based on events occurring at a time when the union wasn***8217;t a union.

This was the part where PFT talks about it. I assume he can still file any suit he wants.

Any idiot can file any suit that he wants.

But I guarantee he won't have a leg to stand on as he too signed the CBA which includes (I'm assuming) the exemption of the 8 players.

Those 10 players were too faced with "tough luck" because whatever they didn't receive was part of what was agree upon. I'm afraid Benson is in the same boat.

Furthermore, not a chance in hell he sues the NFLPA. The organization won't allow it (yes they can) and his agent will be opposed it as well.

 

[vancelot23]

Probably..I just found the exchange interesting, particularly George Attallah saying that report was false.