The 2015 NFL Criminals Thread

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Zaphod

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"And Warren Sapp was fired as an NFL Network analyst after his arrest on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute and allegedly assaulting two women."
That is so wrong as that it should be illegal. So what happens if charges are dropped, if the DA decides not to prosecute, if he is found innocent? Does he get his job back with back pay and a public statement of apology from the network? Imagine getting arrested for something, your employer fires you, and the next day they drop charges and say "oops we had the wrong person." Do you really think you're employer is going to hire you back? That's how wrong it is. I still cannot believe it is allowed to happen and some people actually think its OK.
One of the reasons I can't stand the media. They exercise the power influence public opinion about something to the point that they have everyone believing it as fact, before a case has ever seen trial.

Now, even if Sapp is found not guilty, public opinion is still tainted. People are going to be thinking, maybe even correctly, that money talks in our legal system.

Of course, his position as an analyst is a public sell, so you can't blame them for not hiring him back.

This happens a lot in sports, to the point that you would think that anyone involved should have a degree in theology and live a life of abstinence until they've made their money.
 

Memento

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NFL players really are slacking these days. Last two years, this thread would have reached at least fifteen pages by now.
 

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  • #64
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/27/adrian-peterson-appeal-nfl-roger-goodell-discipline/

ap-story.jpg

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

The Peterson Fallout
The NFL suffered a big blow when a district court judge ruled against the league on Adrian Peterson's appeal. The matter isn't over, but it shines a light on Roger Goodell's unwieldy power and the need for a more uniform discipline policy
By Greg A. Bedard

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty on Thursday continued to be a thorn in the NFL’s side by siding with the NFLPA and Adrian Peterson on the appeal of the running back’s NFL suspension.

Doty vacated the decision made by NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson that upheld Peterson’s suspension through April 15.

I’ve got some thoughts on this news, but first let’s revisit how we got here:

* * *

The Vikings’ star was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List (with pay) after the first game of the season following his indictment by a Texas court on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Peterson was accused of using a “switch” on his 4-year-old child, which resulted in injuries. On Nov. 4, Peterson pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. If he completed his probation, which included a fine, community service and parenting classes, Peterson’s record would be clean.

On Nov. 18, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Peterson without pay for the remainder of the season and would not consider reinstatement before April 15.

On Dec. 12, arbitrator Harold Henderson, a former league executive, upheld Goodell’s discipline of Peterson.

Doty, who oversees the enforcement of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, vacated Henderson’s decision on multiple grounds Thursday. Doty found that Henderson, in allowing Goodell to impose new discipline retroactively, “simply disregarded the law of the shop and in doing so failed to meet his duty under the CBA.” Doty also agreed with the NFLPA that Henderson exceeded his authority.

“Henderson’s conclusion that the new policy is consistent with the previous policy is contradicted by the Commissioner’s own statements,” Doty wrote. “Here, Henderson strayed beyond the issues submitted by the NFLPA and in doing so exceeded his authority.” Doty didn’t take a position on Henderson’s impartiality because he didn’t have to due to his conclusions on prior issues.

In vacating Henderson’s decision, Doty basically kicked the decision back to the NFL appeals’ process for Henderson or another arbitrator to rule on again but this time in better accordance with the CBA.

The NFL said Thursday afternoon that it has filed notice of appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is usually more conservative than Doty on labor issues.

“We believe strongly that Judge Doty’s order is incorrect and fundamentally at odds with well-established legal precedent governing the district court’s role in reviewing arbitration decisions,” the NFL said in a statement.

Peterson was returned to the Commissioner’s Exempt List pending another decision by Henderson or a decision by the appeals court.

* * *

A few thoughts at this juncture:

• This is a big precedent case for the NFL, so it’s not surprising that it appealed. Panthers end Greg Hardy is awaiting a decision on league discipline stemming from a domestic violence arrest. Like Peterson, Hardy also landed on the exempt list. Hardy was found guilty of misdemeanor charges, but later those charges were dismissed when prosecutors couldn’t find the victim to testify.

If Doty’s ruling is allowed to stand, that basically ties the NFL’s hands when it comes to disciplining players for bad acts that happened prior to Goodell strengthening the personal conduct policy after the Ray Rice fiasco. Before Rice, the precedent had been the four-game suspension (reduced from six) incurred by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in 2010. If Doty had allowed Henderson’s ruling to stand, then nothing would be stopping Goodell from giving Hardy the same suspension as Peterson (six games without pay—another 10 with pay in essence—and no reinstatement for start of free agency period).

Doty’s decision cleared the way for Peterson to be immediately reinstated. Not surprisingly, the Charlotte Observer reported Hardy would seek immediate reinstatement after the Doty decision. But now, after the NFL’s decision to appeal, it appears to be status quo on Hardy. A suspension could still happen.

• To those in and around the NFL, this is another blow against Goodell’s power and decision making. Both previous landmark cases appealed during his tenure—the Saints’ bounty scandal and Ray Rice—have been struck down or amended by a neutral arbitrator. Henderson’s deep league office ties raised eyebrows when he was appointed by Goodell to hear Peterson’s appeal. Now that Doty has vacated Henderson’s ruling, Goodell is 0-for-3 in major appeals.

• However, to the people most important to the league office (advertisers and corporate sponsors), nothing has really changed for Goodell. Rice, Peterson and Hardy were all removed from the NFL season while dealing with serious personal conduct allegations. How that happened, or whether it should have been allowed after the fact, doesn’t really matter.

The NFL and Goodell appear tough on personal conduct issues to the public at large. And don’t think the players haven’t noticed either. One way or another, whether he has to reverse his decisions or invent new punishments on the fly, Goodell is going to sideline that player if there’s enough of a public outcry.

The Peterson case is far from over. Henderson could craft a new appeal decision that makes Peterson happy and keeps Goodell’s wide-ranging punishments viable. The Eighth Circuit, which often sides with the NFL, could set aside Doty’s ruling because he overreached his power, and further embolden Goodell.

You’d hope, at some point, Goodell would wise up and realize if he doesn’t come up with a uniform enforcement policy, he’s going to continue to be on the losing end of these decisions. Based on his history in office, that seems to be a long shot.
 

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  • #65
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...a-maiava-serving-15-days-in-jail-for-assault/

Ex-Raider Kaluka Maiava serving 15 days in jail for assault
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 1, 2015

maiava-e1425208498680.jpeg
AP

Kaluka Maiava, a free agent linebacker who started two games for the Raiders last season, is currently in jail in Hawaii for assault.

Maiava turned himself in Monday afternoon to the Maui Community Correctional Center to begin serving a 15-day jail term, according to the Associated Press. Maiava pleaded no contest to assault charges stemming from a 2013 incident at a Maui bar.

The Raiders cut Maiava in November and he is currently a free agent. Maiava’s attorney, Ben Lowenthal, asked the judge not to impose a sentence that would make it difficult for Maiava to sign with another NFL team.

“This conviction will have an adverse effect on his ability to join another team and continue playing professionally — despite being in good condition and healthy to play,” Lowenthal said. “A conviction should not be the final factor that leads to an early end to a professional football career.”

The judge, however, said Maiava should not get special treatment “because he is an NFL player, makes a lot of money, has a lot of friends.”

Maiava, who is the nephew of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Browns in 2009.
 

Athos

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The judge, however, said Maiava should not get special treatment “because he is an NFL player, makes a lot of money, has a lot of friends.”

Thank god the judge has a conscious and a brain. That kind of BS is what often pisses me off about prof. sports players and well, people with money in general.

There really is no fairness in the courts when you can throw money at a problem and walk away while the poor or average folk get branded for life and serve twice as much time.
 

LesBaker

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That's an excellent point. Every time someone with a major character flaw comes up, someone brings up that Fisher can reign that individual in.

But that generalization is just not so. I think they know well who their head coach is, and if a player is questionable, I'm sure they'll run him by Fisher to find out if he can work with him before drafting the kid.

It took me a bit to think of his name, but Vince Young comes to mind as well. It's just not as simple as saying that Jeff Fisher can work with anyone.

Fisher didn't want Young, Bud Adams went and got him anyway then made Fisher play him.

It was a big part, and maybe the last straw, regarding Fishers tenure in TN.
 

LesBaker

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One of the reasons I can't stand the media. They exercise the power influence public opinion about something to the point that they have everyone believing it as fact, before a case has ever seen trial.

Now, even if Sapp is found not guilty, public opinion is still tainted. People are going to be thinking, maybe even correctly, that money talks in our legal system.

Of course, his position as an analyst is a public sell, so you can't blame them for not hiring him back.

This happens a lot in sports, to the point that you would think that anyone involved should have a degree in theology and live a life of abstinence until they've made their money.

He admitted it, and filmed it. Dude is a knucklehead and I wonder now how he is going to pay off the bankruptcy he did two years ago.
 

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/01/ravens-defensive-back-arrested-for-dwi/

Ravens defensive back arrested for DWI
Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2015

bengals.jpg
AP

Last month, the Ravens signed defensive backVictor Hampton, an undrafted free agent in 2014. He likely will be cut before he ever shows up for an offseason training session.

According to WSOC-TV, Hampton has been arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated in Charlotte. He reportedly was driving 100 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone on Interstate 77. Hampton’s blood-alcohol content was determined to be 0.10 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08.

Under the revised substance-abuse policy, Hampton, who initially was signed by the Bengals and who spent time on the Giants’ practice squad last year, faces a two-game suspension, if ultimately found to be responsible for driving while intoxicated. To be suspended, however, he first has to be on a regular-season roster. Given the new charges, that may never happen.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ell-faces-a-maximum-suspension-of-four-games/

Le’Veon Bell faces a maximum suspension of four games
Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2015

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AP

The new substance-abuse policy imposes a two-game suspension for a first-offense DUI. By landing on probation for a July 2014 DUI arrest arising from marijuana use, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is expected to be suspended for two games.

But there’s a catch that could result in a doubling of Bell’s expected punishment. The new substance-abuse policy makes a two-game suspension the standard penalty for a DUI arising from alcohol use. For violations of the law involving other substances of abuse, a first offense exposes the player to a suspension of “up to four” games.

It’s unclear whether the NFL will give Bell, who becomes the test case for the new substance-abuse policy, four games, three, two, or fewer. The prior substance-abuse policy also exposed players to a suspension without pay of “up to four” games for violations of the law for substances other than alcohol. Still, it would be a surprise if Bell gets less for DUI-marijuana under the new policy than he would get for DUI-alcohol under the new policy.

But don’t be surprised if he gets more, especially since alcohol is legal in Pennsylvania and marijuana currently isn’t.

Either way, the Steelers need to have a solid plan in place for replacing the team’s workhorse tailback for at least two and as many as four regular-season games in 2015.
 

Stranger

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Do you think players are being targeted by law enforcement? I don't know one way or the other, but either social media is giving us more insight than we had before into poor player-off-the-field-behavior, or they're being targeted more, or perhaps a little bit of both. Any thoughts on this?
 

Prime Time

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Do you think players are being targeted by law enforcement? I don't know one way or the other, but either social media is giving us more insight than we had before into poor player-off-the-field-behavior, or they're being targeted more, or perhaps a little bit of both. Any thoughts on this?

It's the insatiable 24/7 news cycle along with the sense of entitlement that some of these players have when they're blessed with lots of cash, and then there's also the wildness and irresponsibility of youth. Others had no good role models growing up so they don't know better.

Drunks and crazy antics is part of the lore of the NFL. If Kenny Stabler, Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Namath, and Lyle Alzado were playing today they'd probably end up in this thread.

I used to play in bars and after 1 am the cops would be lined up outside to arrest anyone who was walking or driving in an unsteady manner. In a sense they were targeting people but I look at it like they were just doing their jobs.
 

Athos

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Do you think players are being targeted by law enforcement? I don't know one way or the other, but either social media is giving us more insight than we had before into poor player-off-the-field-behavior, or they're being targeted more, or perhaps a little bit of both. Any thoughts on this?

Don't know how they could be targeting if they're just pulling guys over unless they literally keep a LP rap-sheet of what NFL players drive.

You can't fix stupid though. And I don't know why dumbass players keep doing this.

That said, why the hell is an incident from 2014, July by the way, going to influence THIS season. Seems rather dumb.
 

Prime Time

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That said, why the hell is an incident from 2014, July by the way, going to influence THIS season. Seems rather dumb.

Because of how long the justice system takes to adjudicate court cases. The NFL doesn't usually levy punishments until the courts have ruled one way or the other.

Le’Veon Bell was arrested in August of 2014 but his probation sentence wasn't handed down until Feb. 6th of this year. Now the NFL can act.
 

Mackeyser

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Greg Hardy's a POS.

He clearly is guilty and used the loophole in NC's laws to buy himself time to pay off the woman he beat to take a massive settlement to get lost so that his pending jury trial would have to be thrown out.

Hey Hardy... making the beaten woman disappear doesn't make you innocent. Just means you're soulless and after paying off the victim you have the ball-balls to appear before people and CLAIM innocence.

Someone needs to drop a piano on that guy. One that's on fire...
 

Prime Time

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Greg Hardy's a POS.

He clearly is guilty and used the loophole in NC's laws to buy himself time to pay off the woman he beat to take a massive settlement to get lost so that his pending jury trial would have to be thrown out.

Hey Hardy... making the beaten woman disappear doesn't make you innocent. Just means you're soulless and after paying off the victim you have the ball-balls to appear before people and CLAIM innocence.

Someone needs to drop a piano on that guy. One that's on fire...

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article11383256.html

NFL won’t get Hardy’s trial evidence
BY JOSEPH PERSON
JPERSON@CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Between the appeals on top of appeals in the Adrian Peterson saga and the dueling motions being filed in Greg Hardy’s case, the NFL’s lawyers and those representing the players are racking up billable hours this offseason.

But the mounting pile of paperwork in the Hardy file no longer contains the exhibits the league’s investigators presumably are most interested in seeing: The dozens of photos introduced in the July trial documenting the injuries sustained by Hardy’s ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder, during their altercation last May at Hardy’s uptown condo.

The NFL this month asked a judge to unseal the evidence from the first trial, during which a district judge found Hardy guilty of the misdemeanor charges of assaulting Holder and threatening to kill her.

But the exhibits had been returned to the district attorney’s office and Hardy’s attorney, Chris Fialko, on Feb. 11, two days after the charges were dismissed against Hardy when prosecutors said they couldn’t locate Holder to testify in the jury trial.

Fialko filed his own motion Feb. 16, asking the court to deny the NFL’s request. That same day, Superior Court Judge Robert Bell signed an order doing just that.

Bell’s order was not entered into the file until Feb. 24, a day after the NFL withdrew its original motion.

What does all this mean?

That Hardy and his attorneys apparently aren’t going to willfully turn over any evidence to the NFL investigators trying to figure out what happened between Hardy and Holder, and whether and how severely to punish him.

Fialko has the only transcript for Hardy’s first trial, and has declined to comment when asked whether he’d provide it to the league. Fialko, a veteran Charlotte defense attorney who was part of Rae Carruth’s legal team, is protecting his client’s interests.

But it comes across as non-cooperation, which is not the best look for Hardy – certainly not where Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, a staunch loyalist to the league, is concerned.

Hardy, who settled with Holder for an undisclosed sum to take care of any civil claims, has showed little or no contrition since his arrest last May. Even if he believes he’s innocent, Hardy could have apologized to the Panthers for putting the team in a bad light.

The closest Hardy came to a mea culpa was at training camp last July when he said: “I hate that I have distracted my team, but other than that I can’t really answer any questions.”

It’s unclear when or if Hardy will answer questions from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or Lisa Friel, the former New York City sex crimes prosecutor hired by the league last fall to help clean up the Ray Rice mess.

Hardy’s lawyers and representatives have not said whether Hardy has met with Goodell yet, or if he has a meeting scheduled.

After a federal judge ruled in Peterson’s favor last week, the Observer reported Hardy planned to ask the league for immediate reinstatementfrom the commissioner’s exempt list. But after the league appealed Judge David Doty’s decision, it effectively put Hardy’s reinstatement hopes on ice.

I have to think the NFL will announce the discipline for Hardy this week, before the March 10 start of free agency. And given the post-Rice climate around the league, I don’t see a scenario in which Hardy is not suspended.

The question is whether Goodell uses the baseline discipline from the league’s new personal conduct policy for first-time violations of domestic violence (six games) or reverts to the former policy. It was Goodell’s retroactive use of the new policy in the Peterson case that led Doty to overturn an arbitrator’s decision upholding Goodell’s suspension of Peterson through at least April 15.

Whatever Goodell decides on Hardy, the process is just beginning.

There’s certain to be a grievance filed by the players union, and arbitration hearings and appeals to follow.

Eventually, the lawyers and league officials will end up with a resolution on Hardy, but it will no longer be the Panthers’ concern.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/28/report-panthers-are-done-with-greg-hardy/

Report: Panthers are done with Greg Hardy
Posted by Darin Gantt on February 28, 2015

We don’t know at the moment whether Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy will or won’t be suspended.

And we can’t know until at least the March 10 start of free agency to know where he’ll play, whenever he’s eligible.

But it seems we know where he won’t be playing next season.

According to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, the Panthers are out of the running for last year’s franchise player, deciding to let him walk into the market, and willing to simply accept whatever 2016 compensatory pick comes their way.

While a number of players went to bat for Hardy with management after his domestic violence case was thrown out to create a glimmer of hope, “that slim possibility quickly cooled and eventually ended last week.”

It’s unclear what, if anything, happened within the last seven days to erase the last shred of hope that he’d return. But you could see the writing on the wall at the Scouting Combine, when General Manager Dave Gettleman was discussing the importance of evaluating character and said “Who wants a ticking time bomb?

The Panthers were already wary of him, unwilling to invest in a long-term deal last year. Then their $13.1-million franchise tag gamble backfired, when he played one game and spent the rest of the year on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Hardy’s lately been retweeting fans begging the team to bring him back, but it seems like he’s going to have to find another fanbase to do his passive-aggressive online panhandling for him.

If this was just a football decision, he’d be one of the most sought-after players in the market. He’s still 26, and had 15.0 sacks the last time he played a full season.

Teams such as the Falcons, Buccaneers, Bengals, Raiders and Jaguars have the means and needs to pursue him, but his market will be fascinating to watch since no one’s sure when or whether Roger Goodell will rule on his status.
 

Mackeyser

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Well, Goodell's got him on the Exempt list.

That's a helluva black hole. He can be there in a wicked long f'n limbo while the league drags its heels.

And Goodell can now call Hardy and atty into his office and DEMAND the transcript under the "conduct" rule.

So, freak Greg Hardy. The court may not have to give it to them, but if Hardy's atty has it... Check and Mate. Turn over the transcripts and let the NFL evaluate it or don't cooperate and take the max penalty which would likely be a 1 year ban with the ability to apply for reinstatement.

The NFLPA needs to fight for guys like the Eagle player and need to cut loose the POS criminals like Hardy so that the NFL can get this policy in place, already.

It doesn't help anyone for the Commish to be castrated and have every serious punishment overturned such that it becomes clear he can't really make any serious punishment stick.
 

Mackeyser

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I generally agree with you.

I just despise how Hardy basically bought his way out of a DV charge.
 

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...agles-working-to-lower-trent-coles-cap-hit-2/

Jarrett Bush arrested for public intoxication in California
Posted by Josh Alper on March 2, 2015

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Getty Images

Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush has run into some trouble with the law in California.

Solano County jail logs show that Bush was booked early on Sunday morning by the Vacaville Police Department on a charge of disorderly conduct while under the influence. There aren’t any specifics about what Bush did to land in hot water.

The booking log shows that Bush was held on the misdemeanor charge with a bail charge of $1,600. WBAY reports, via KTVU in San Francisco, that Bush, who is from Vacaville, was detained and eventually released.

Bush has been a member of the Packers since 2006 and has been a core member of their special teams, but is a little more than a week away from becoming a free agent. We’ll see if this arrest impacts how things play out on that front.
 

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/02/ravens-cut-victor-hampton-after-dwi-arrest/

Ravens cut Victor Hampton after DWI arrest
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2015

victorhampton-e1425319374788.jpeg
AP

When a good player gets arrested, the player’s team usually releases a statement saying it is aware of the matter but will have no comment while it waits for due process to play out.

When a mediocre player gets arrested, the player’s team usually cuts him.

Victor Hampton has just found that out the hard way.

Hampton, who was arrested for driving while intoxicated over the weekend, has been released by the Ravens. The Ravens’ entire statement was as follows: “The Baltimore Ravens have waived CB Victor Hampton from their roster, general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome announced Monday afternoon.”

Although Hampton faces a potential two-game suspension from the NFL, that’s probably not going to be an issue. Hampton went undrafted in 2014 largely because of off-field concerns, and after failing to get on the field as a rookie, he’s now been arrested again. Hampton has blown enough second chances that it’s hard to see any team giving Hampton another second chance.