Neither you nor the NFLPA nor the four players get to have it both ways. The player vs manager punishment comparison is inapropriate for a host of reasons — first, the managers acknowledged guilt and, as you well know, doing so typically results in diminished punishment. Also, as another reader pointed out, the salaries of the two “classes” result in a de facto differentiator. In addition, as you have pointed out, the burden of proof here (given the CBA and the players choice to decline defense in the arbitration) has shifted to the players. Choosing to provide no offense (in the form of self defense) was a folding of the hand.

In the end, the appropriate call here in the court system is to throw it all back to the collectively bargained remedy. It will be interesting to see if the judge’s ego will allow that.

In principle, I would agree that the suspensions are imbalanced, but putting the onus squarely on Goodell is an assertion that overlooks an important point: The NFLPA’s refusal to balance the process through participation. We have to remember that the NFLPA ardently declined the NFL’s invitation to weigh in on how to discipline these players. The players also refused to participate in the appeal. The process is built around the players or their union adding their perspective. Without it, of course it seems biased and unbalanced. It’s not designed to work this way.
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Very interesting comment. Initially, the NFLPA had to choose sides. Should they side with the few alleged transgressors or side with the vast majority of players, those who were subjected to a bounty program? The NFLPA chose the former.

The NFLPA’s initial defense of the miscreants is to deny and refute the existence of the program. And they’re stuck at that first phase because that strategy doesn’t work under the circumstances of the CBA. In this choice to deny the existence of a program, the NFLPA has abrogated its ability to provide any input as to the punishments levied. When presented with an opportunity to defend themselves, the players and their union chose not to. They’re still operating within the denial phase.

If I were an upright, clean player in the NFL, I would certainly resent my union’s protection of these players, whom I feel certain are guilty. This could have negative long-term affects toward the NFLPA from within its ranks.

I think the Commissioner’s punishment rulings will be upheld. At that point he may invite the NFLPA for input as to any sentence modification.
But as defined by the tenets of the CBA, he certainly doesn’t have to.

Saints are jokes. And dirty. Sorry the Katrina darling team is done getting passes. Good job NFL.

I hate auto correct. It tries to read my mind and always gets it wrong.

Wow! These players are getting desperate for excuses now.
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It was Florio that made the point, not players.

You didn’t do it, which was the first argument (an argument which failed), or you did do it but you were “just following orders”? It can’t be both. Sounds like somebody is getting too “lawyered-up”.

This “just following orders” argument was forever debunked and thrown into the trash heap at Nuremburg after World War II. BOTH soldiers and officers (players and coaches) are responsible for their actions.

This shifting theory of trying to avoid, and evade, culpability on the part of the players is only undercutting their credibility and enhancing Commissioner Goodell’s credibility.

Orders to do what, exactly?***

Orders to deny the existence of a pay-per-performance program.

It’s sad that at this point, people still don’t get the difference between this program and the pay-to-injure one that’s being condamned by the NFL.

How would a coach prove a player wasn’t following the coach’s order to injure opposing players?

Say you’re a player who thinks your coaches are wrong to ask you to intentionally injure your opponents, but you don’t want to call attention to yourself by telling them you think they’re wrong. Instead, you play as hard as you normally would, and just don’t try to knock people out of the game on purpose.

If a coach accused you of not trying to hurt people, as long as you weren’t visibly dogging it you could say, “I’m trying, coach, but their legs just aren’t breaking.”

However, I don’t buy this argument yet as the program was *allegedly* voluntary. Whether or not this is voluntary in the same manner that Williams and Payton don’t have a gag order placed on them by the league is not know (or disclosed)

Also, allegations against the players under suspension are that they volunteered monies to seed the pool.

the nazi’s, torturers at Abu Gharab, and murders at My Lai were all just following orders as well.

Sorry, don’t buy it, what’s wrong is wrong.

Does that excuse them? Nope, should it, I don’t know.