MrVociferous

September 5th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^

Embarassing for Goodell that Tressel had to suspend himself.  The commish's punishments, and lack there of in some instances, has been a joke.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1299

Section 1

September 5th, 2011 at 1:28 PM ^

Pryor was suspended for, as I understsnd it, undermining certain NFL rules concerning the supplemental draft.  They may be arcane rules; I presume that every rule relating to the NFL Supplemental Draft starts off by being arcane.  Okay.

So what NFL rule did Tressel break?

Of course, the TerryFosterDrewSharps of the world jumped on news of Tressel's invovlement with an NFL franchise and cried, "Hypocrisy!  Tressel must be suspended as was Pryor!" 

But I have no idea what rule was broken by either guy, warranting what is for the NFL an amazingly severe penalty (five games) for... What?

Has Ray Lewis ever gotten a five-game suspension?

I understand -- Tressel may have handed himself this suspension, in some sort of weird solidarity with Pryor.  Whatever.  I'd prefer to know what NFL rules are involved.  Not that I care too much about the NFL.  If the NFL wishes to have a rule saying that they will honor and abide by all pre-existing NCAA suspensions, they could say that.  But there's no such rule as far as I know.  Such a principle obviously hasn't slowed down Reggie Bush's NFL career.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

Jon06

September 5th, 2011 at 1:38 PM ^

It's 6 games, not 5. This is a PR move from the Colts, but I think it's good that they recognize that people were upset about their hiring of Tressel. Witness:

Polian said questions surfaced after the announcement of Tressel's hiring "with respect to the equity of his appointment as opposed to suspensions being served this season by present and former Ohio State players."

The Colts, as an organization, have gained fans by purporting to be a character organization. So it's them trying to do right by their reputation.

Joined: 09/19/2009

MGoPoints: 15297

e.go.blue

September 5th, 2011 at 3:39 PM ^

Anybody else think the NFL and NCAA are toeing a dangerous anti-trust line with these suspensions? The NFL and NCAA compete for employees...and they're colluding to keep Pryor and Tressel from employment. Imagine if you were released by your current employer on less-than-solid terms, but then couldn't find employment anywhere else because your former and potential employers had colluded to not hire former employees of the other company. It's classic Sherman Act anti-trust!

Joined: 03/25/2009

MGoPoints: 641

Section 1

September 5th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^

...is none other than former Buckeye Maurice Clarett's Sherman Act claim versus the National Football League.

Here is the District Court's opinion, before any appeals:

http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/nfl/clarettnfl20504opn.pdf

The Disctrict Court held that Clarett had a valid Sherman Act claim to be elibgible for the NFL draft.

But District Judge Scheindlin was overruled by the Second Circuit, by none other than future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote the opinion for the three-judge panel:

http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/nfl/clarettnfl52404opn.pdf

The Supreme Court denied cert and as so often happens, the case was subsumed as a practical matter by Clarett's attaining an age where he could be drafted. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

justingoblue

September 5th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^

But the issue at stake in these cases doesn't really relate to what the first poster alleges. Even if Pryor was barred from the draft, he wouldn't be in the same class of players as Clarett, who claimed that the arbitrary age restriction violated the Sherman Act. Pryor actually has it much better than he might have if the NFL rigidly stuck to its rules on the supplemental draft (and I doubt there is any legal recourse that would force the NFL to hold a supplemental draft), and Tressel apparently asked an individual team to suspend him, again having nothing to do with an arbitrary restriction like in the Clarett case.

Joined: 11/16/2010

MGoPoints: 29741

Section 1

September 5th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^

Clarett's case ultimately turned on fact-based specifics of the NFL draft rules for underclassmen.  Different facts.  I never said that the 2nd Cir. Ct. of Appeals ruling would control.

I only suggested it as a tutorial on the intersection of "Sherman Anti-Trust Act law" and "the NFL draft."  If you can find a published federal court decision on the supplemental draft, or on suspensions of former collegiate coaches, be my guest.

I might also agree with you argument about Pryor's claim.  But my guess is that if you were Pryor's attorney, and you were briefing cross-motions for summary judgment on the issue, you'd at least be citing (and perhaps distinguishing) for your position Clarett v. National Football League, 369 F.3d 124 (2d Cir. 2004).

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

BRCE

September 5th, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^

You Colts fans questioning your fanhood because they gave Tressel a laughably minor job aren't real fans at all.

If the Lions hired him to do some consulting, I'd shrug my shoulders, say "that's not too cool," and then root like hell for them on Sundays as usual, quite confident that his role would have virtually nothing to do with the product on the field.

Joined: 12/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3239

Jon06

September 5th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^

You're right. I'm not at all fanatical about the NFL. I cheer for a team that I think represents what is good about the sport, which happens to be a lot of fun since I'm from Indiana. But if they stop representing what is good about the sport, and instead start mixing with the sort of people who make a living off of exploiting college-level athletes, then the fact that I'm not fanatical allows me to disengage.

Incidentally, your Lions-fanhood-related masochism isn't noble. They're a downtrodden organization with crappy records and worse management. But congratulations on not being able to take a step back and reevaluate whether or not they're earning your support.

Joined: 09/19/2009

MGoPoints: 15297