Goodell: Five NFL teams fined for violating d

**dabears54** · 03-23-2011, 07:34 AM

wonder why they did maybe something to do with draft trades and players, besides the contact with teams? hmm

Goodell: Five NFL teams fined for violating dead period rules

Teams are under scrutiny for rule violations Aaron Wilson

NEW ORLEANS -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said today that five NFL teams were fined for having illegal contact with players during a designated dead period.
"They were fined," Goodell said.
The punishment stems from a violation of a provision of the collective bargaining agreement.

The NFL didn't disclose the teams or fine amounts and league executive Jeff Pash said after the press conference that the five teams are either being fined or investigated.
The Miami Dolphins are regarded as one of them because of the contact between quarterback Chad Henne and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and other staffers.
"Five teams were contacted, whether they were inquiries or fines or some of each, I haven't read the letters so I don't know," Pash said. "The commissioner sort of rather strongly suggested that one team in South Florida might have crossed the line. Beyond that, I don't know."

The Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers are also considered likely violators of the rule, according to published reports regarding the contact that took place between new head coaches/coordinators and their players.

The NFL released the following portion of the collective bargaining agreement that governs the violations:

"There have been rules in place for years that govern what is permissible prior to the start of the offseason program. It is the interpretation of Article XXXV of the CBA. Before the offseason program begins, generally around March 15, players are permitted to use the Club's facilities on a voluntary basis subject to the following rules:

(i) such players may not receive per diem payments or workout bonuses of any kind and may not be paid or reimbursed expenses for travel, board or lodging during this period;

(ii) such players are not permitted to participate in organized workouts, practices or meetings of any kind;

(iii) the Club's strength and conditioning coaches may not direct such players' individual workouts, but may supervise use of the weight room to prevent injury, correct misuse of equipment, etc.;

(iv) such players may not be directed or supervised by position coaches during this period."

**Dagan81** · 03-23-2011, 03:11 PM

Yet another example of the ineptitude of this league. It is pretty atrocious when your coaches, training staff and team doctors, and the front office cannot approach players regarding anything. At least with a strike, players can cross over, but from what I have read with this lockout, that is made impossible as the owners have essentially become hostile to any and all aspects of player/ownership relations.

Of course, the players were equally at fault with this. While I tend to favor the players' plight more in this struggle because they would be, in the classical sense, "the underdog", Dee Smith did the NFLPA a great disservice by pushing the union away from the negotiating table and, in essence, perhaps cut its nose off just to spite its face. From your previous posts in other threads, DB, the best the players can hope for is possibly 50% of their listed goals. They might relegate the salary cap to the 2010 level in which there was no hard cap (which I am for), but in the process would seriously hinder progress in the working nature of free agency (restricted vs. unrestricted). The two sides are at an absolute impasse at the present, and unfortunately, only a court decision will determine the fates of the two sides in terms of what goals are to be obtained.

**soulman** · 03-23-2011, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Yet another example of the ineptitude of this league. It is pretty atrocious when your coaches, training staff and team doctors, and the front office cannot approach players regarding anything. At least with a strike, players can cross over, but from what I have read with this lockout, that is made impossible as the owners have essentially become hostile to any and all aspects of player/ownership relations.

Of course, the players were equally at fault with this. While I tend to favor the players' plight more in this struggle because they would be, in the classical sense, "the underdog", Dee Smith did the NFLPA a great disservice by pushing the union away from the negotiating table and, in essence, perhaps cut its nose off just to spite its face. From your previous posts in other threads, DB, the best the players can hope for is possibly 50% of their listed goals. They might relegate the salary cap to the 2010 level in which there was no hard cap (which I am for), but in the process would seriously hinder progress in the working nature of free agency (restricted vs. unrestricted). The two sides are at an absolute impasse at the present, and unfortunately, only a court decision will determine the fates of the two sides in terms of what goals are to be obtained.

That's what a lockout is all about Dags. Since it's not a strike there's no picket line to cross. It's not about an employee refusing to work it's about the employer not allowing them to. There can be no contact with the employees while the lockout remains in force. But yeah, it is pretty stupid.

Both sides have had their stupid moments lately.

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