Talented but unemployed NFL receiver Antonio Brown reportedly met with Roger Goodell on Thursday, hoping to resolve his status and emerge from the purgatory that has left him unsigned since he was released by the Patriots on September 20.
Scarcely a blub about the meeting emerged through media coverage in the two days following the scheduled interview.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/11/16/could-antonio-brown-win-a-legal-challenge-against-nfl/
The same appeals court that gutted Federal District Judge Claudia Wilken’s ruling in O’Bannon v. NCAA has an opportunity to make amends for that failure. Given the merits of the case, the language of Wilken’s ruling and the arguments of several amicus briefs that have been filed on both sides, it seems the Ninth’s decision is style or substance.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/11/15/alston-appeal-is-perfect-representation-of-style-over-substance/
According to multiple reports, New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft has been trying to convince Rob Gronkowski to end his retirement and rejoin the team. Since Gronkowski has not yet submitted formal retirement papers, he would be eligible to return prior to November 30 if he chose to do so. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Kraft told Gronkowski that he wants him to return for November, December, and a playoff run. If that happened, the team not only would welcome him back but would remain hopeful that it happens.” That conversation is said to have taken place in March when Gronkowski announced his retirement. As recently as October, Kraft expressed his desire for Gronk’s return, “We all love Gronk and I think the bottom line is, he hasn’t put his retirement papers in. We can pray and hope. … I think that’s a good academic argument that there is hope with Gronk.”
It’s unclear if additional overtures have been made, but if so, Kraft should take a few steps back and consider what he’s asking.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/11/13/what-robert-kraft-should-explain-to-rob-gronkowski-when-he-tries-to-coax-him-from-retirement/
The ability of the NFL to avoid liability for how current and former players were treated in regards to overuse of painkiller medications is rooted in its use of two “shields.” The first is a holding that its individual franchises, not the NFL itself, are responsible for any and all medical care that players receive. The second is that any indirect activity on the topic of player welfare is governed by the league’s collective bargaining agreement and therefore any player grievances should be handled within the parameters laid out by that document and that players forfeited their ability to use the courts in that manner when they agreed to the terms of the CBA.
That’s exactly the points the NFL makes in its response to Richard Dent’s third amended complaint against the league.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/11/11/nfl-repeats-old-talking-points-in-response-to-dents-third-complaint/
Power struggles between settlement funder Thrivest, settlement administration and the court(s) have left players who took advances from Thrivest Specialty Funding in seemingly no-win knot that threatens to nullify their settlement awards should they manage to navigate the road of red-tape and receive one. The most recent ramifications of this point to two former players who’ve been sanctioned and stand the risk of jail time should they continue to fail to comply with an arbitration mandate that requires them to place disputed funds in escrow.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/11/03/mandamus-denied-players-facing-potential-jail-time-in-latest-funder-spat/
When the Victim Becomes the Accused: The Kamrin Moore StoryWe are drawn to big headlines that flash across the bottom of our TV screens and the dramatic music accompanying developing stories, whether we are watching CNN or the NFL Network. Not to mention the grave facial expression, the solemn tone and delivery of the information by the correspondent or “insider” as they constantly glance at their cell phones as if waiting for more details. Just as quickly as news breaks, someone jumps on Twitter in hopes of being first to report, as other reporters scramble to get to press before their competitors. As the frenzy in frantic in newsrooms and on social media ensues with various reporters competing to be the first to report any additional detail associated with the news item, often fact-checking, and investigation is a luxury many do not have time for in today’s click hungry-media environment.
On Tuesday, Kamrin Moore was cleared of the domestic violence charges against him, but on July 15, he became the latest NFL player accused of domestic violence.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/10/31/beyond-the-headlines-theres-often-more-to-the-picture-than-first-meets-the-eye/
Dear Senator Booker:
At Advocacy for Fairness in Sports, we are delighted to see that a candidate for President of the United States of America is taking the issues we advocate seriously. These include gender equality, racial equality, comprehensive medical care for injured athletes, and economic justice, as we oppose abuses of power by leagues and other athletic organizations.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/10/29/our-open-letter-to-senator-cory-booker-re-athlete-rights/
The theory of relativity states that for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Recent headlines have driven that point home and some seemingly unrelated stories intersect at one common point—football. Upon closer examination of the stories however, you see how they are entwined and how certain actions produce the reactions that mimic physical law.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/10/28/intersection-football-when-headlines-collide/
Those who abuse athletes and power are enabled to do so by structures designed to hold them accountable for failing that responsibility. A recent wrongful termination lawsuit brings that to light.
At the center of Kuck’s allegations are events that took place late in 2017 and spilled over into the following two years. Kuck says that in October of 2017, mere months after taking the job as the club’s head swim coach, he reported assistant coach Jeremy Anderson to the board for verbally abusing a member family and threatening the family with revocation of their membership in retaliation for a similar complaint the family had made.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/10/28/whistleblower-swim-coach-details-abuse-retaliation-in-new-lawsuit/
New York Jets offensive guard Kelechi Osemele’s ongoing and now public dispute with the New York Jets, highlights a problem anchored deeply within NFL culture. In case you somehow missed it, the Jets threatened to discipline Osemele for “conduct detrimental”—and then on Saturday afternoon followed through with the threat by imposing a fine.
What conduct did the Jets organization deem to be detrimental? Mr. Osemele wants to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2019/10/20/jets-refusal-to-allow-kelechi-osemele-to-have-surgery-for-torn-labrum-is-a-harsh-reminder-of-nfls-dna/
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