The week has ended the same way it began -- with an arbitrator dismissing a bounty grievance.
First it was Stephen Burbank, who disagreed with the argument that the punishment imposed on four players arising from the Saints bounty system falls within the scope of the labor deal’s prohibition against salary-cap violations. As a result, Burbank concluded that Commissioner Roger Goodell, not Burbank, had jurisdiction over the discipline and appeal process.
On Friday, arbitrator Shyam Das dismissed a separate bounty grievance that raises two arguments: (1) Goodell has no ability to discipline players for any misconduct occurring before the 2011 labor deal was signed; and (2) the discipline arises from on-field misconduct, which means that the appeals should be resolved by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell.
The ruling was disclosed via Twitter by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, who may or may not have been spiking a football with one hand as he typed the tweet with the other.
Per multiple sources with knowledge of the proceedings, the ruling from Das is not subject to appeal. (The Burbank ruling can, and will, be appealed.)
Goodell has scheduled hearings on the appeals of Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Saints defensive end Will Smith, Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove, and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita for June 18.