The Rachel Maddow show is sponsored by Cialis? Interesting. I wonder if Rachel even knows that? And, if so, if she can appreciate the yuk-yuk irony.
Then again, if while reading this blog, one breaks out in hives, develops a rash and swollen lips, can't swallow, experiences nausea and/or bowel misfunction, difficulty breathing, and a strange desire to lug his and her bathtubs to a beach somewhere, then taking Cialis and/or Rachel will likely only make matters worse. In extreme circumstances, if one develops an erection, and it's still there next Easter, by all means stop reading this blog. This would be particularly alarming if one happens to be a lady. And one more thing. Stay the hell away from me. But enough of that nonsense. Onward.
In the on-going Adrian Petersen case, an arbitrator has ruled that Roger Goodell's suspension until at least next April 15 is valid. These are taxing times. Sorry. Ahem. Adrian switched his kid back in May, and Roger has been switching his mind on discipline ever since. Now the NFL Players' Union has filed suit in federal court on behalf of Petersen looking to overturn the arbitrator's ruling.
At first glance, it would seem to be a no-brainer for a federal judge. After all, both sides already had their say in front of a neutral arbiter, he made his ruling, and that's that. But is it?
Turns out, the arbitrator that was appointed to hear Petersen's appeal is one Harold Henderson. Henderson's former job? NFL executive vice-president for labor relations. A "company" man. This is not to suggest such an arbitrator should be a "union" man either, but doesn't it seem only logical such a "neutral" decider should be just that? Neutral?
Henderson might well be an unbiased person at this point in time, but perception has a way of becoming reality. And the union's perception is Henderson's history suggests he'll be biased in favor of management.
They have a point. As Dave Campbell of the AP noted, Henderson backed Goodell's assertion that Petersen has yet to show remorse for the incident. (Remorse is big these days. Doing the time for the "crime" isn't enough. One must grovel.) But Petersen has already publicly apologized. So that doesn't hold water.
Also remember, the original switching incident happened last May. Goodell didn't stiffen up the "player misconduct" penalties until he finally saw the Ray Rice elevator video many months later. At that, it was done without consulting the union on such changes, which would seem to be a violation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union can't change the rules in midstream -- so why should management be able to? Worse, Goodell made Petersen's case retroactive -- long before he unilaterally changed the rules. How can anybody that is supposedly neutral not see and object to such things?
Even nowadays, the penalty for a first time offender of the player misconduct code in such a matter faces a 6 game suspension. Petersen played the first game of the season back in September, and has been suspended ever since. The Minnesota Vikings have been deprived of their star running back for the last 13 games, and it will likely be 15 until their season ends. That equates to a full two and a half times the existing penalty of 6 games. How can this be fair?
Yes, Petersen received his salary during the initial weeks of his suspension when he was placed on a mysterious thing called the "Commissioner's exempt list". But even THAT came with the blessing of Goodell. It's the Commissioner's list -- not the Union's list. Yet with Goodell's latest ruling, Petersen has been officially suspended -- without pay -- for the final six games of the season.
Basically, AP has been forced to miss the entire year. Would the Vikings have been playoff contenders had Petersen been playing all along? Maybe, maybe not. Nobody can say for sure, but they certainly would have been better with arguably the best running back in the league.
But one year in the typical "life expectancy" of an NFL running back is a big deal. AP had already missed another one with a serious leg injury. He's been pilloried in the media and been subjected to a Commissioner's whims -- which seem to change every month depending on public opinion, fanned by the aforementioned media. All this for a misdemeanor he pled guilty to, apologized, received his sentence, and is free and clear regarding the real court system.
Then he had to face a kangaroo court arbitrator, where he never had a chance.
Who indeed is the whipping boy?
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