Arbitrator Rules, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had authority to suspend DE Anthony Hargrove
In his previous decision over the grievance brought forth by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), arbitrator, Stephen Burbank had retained temporary authority over the suspension handed down to Green Bay Packers, defensive end, Anthony
Hargrove.
Burbank who heard the second grievance brought forth by the NFLPA challenging the authority of NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, to lay down player punishments relating to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, had ruled in favour of the commissioner but
asked the NFL to provide more evidence in relation to Hargrove’s suspension.
On Monday, though, Burbank ruled that Goodell had the authority to punish Hargrove as well and said that he has no jurisdiction over the defensive end.
In a statement explaining his decision, Burbank said that the letter provided by the NFL on June 8 in relation to Hargrove’s punishment was in line with the evidence used by the league to punish other players suspended over the bounty scandal.
Burbank wrote in his statement.
“This letter attributes the ‘vast majority of [Mr. Hargrove’s] eight-game suspension to [his] lying . . . and obstruction’ and the ‘balance . . . to [his] active participation in the program by pledging and contributing money to the pool. The June 8 letter
goes on to state that Mr. Hargrove’s ‘suspension was not attributable to any agreement on your part to accept payments from the pool or to any moneys that you may have received from the pool.’”
Now all eyes will turn to the appeals scheduled by commissioner, Roger Goodell which will be held on June 18th in which the players will look to have their sentences reduced.
All four players have appealed their suspensions and will also ask the league to show them the evidence they have gathered in relation to the pay-to-injure program.
Goodell had suspended Saints defence captain, Jonathan Vilma, defensive lineman, Will Smith and Cleveland Browns, linebacker, Scott Fujita and Hargrove earlier in May for their leadership role in the bounty scandal.
Both of the NFLPA’s grievances filed against the decision to suspend players have now been completely dismissed by the arbitrators and it is now up to the players to present their case on June 18th in front of Goodell.
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