By Ben Cooper ’16

Over the past few years, the NFL has been in the news for what has happened off the field almost as much as for what has happened on it. Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended for domestic violence. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was suspended for child abuse. Most recently, Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, was suspended for supposedly deflating footballs to his advantage. These events all have one thing in common; the suspensions were all overturned in the court of law after a supposed error in the NFL process.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell imposed each of these suspensions, but they were all reversed because courts ruled that he overstepped the boundaries outlined in the agreement between the NFL and its players known as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Specifically in the Brady case, Goodell stated that because Brady was “probably” involved in the deflation of footballs, he deserved a four-game suspension. When Brady and his team of lawyers took the case to court, the ruling was overturned because Goodell had never suspended anyone on those terms and he didn’t adhere to the boundaries stated in the CBA. In the CBA, Goodell is given the right to fairly hand out suspensions as well as preside neutrally over any appeal of those suspensions, therefore making him in charge of nearly the entire process. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) argued that Goodell did not fairly hand out the suspension. This isn’t the first time an error has been made in the NFL’s legal process, and it’s clear that the NFLPA will seek changes to the powers that Goodell currently holds.

A wrongdoing does not normally define one’s career, but in Goodell’s case there have been four major suspensions of his overturned in court. Most experts agree that there are glaring issues with how he is involved in every phase of the NFL’s legal process, and therefore the NFLPA is looking to agree to a new CBA that would reduce his involvement in situations that require fines, suspensions or appeals. Goodell wouldn’t be completely removed from the process, but certainly after so many mishaps there would be someone else to help out in order to avoid even more embarrassment for the NFL.