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My take on Josh Gordon

inkfreq

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
5,641
Bear in mind, I am not a lawyer, I just speak legal-ese pretty well. I got interested in Josh Gordon's potential lawsuit against the NFL in his suspension case after it was rumored he may file, and I picked him up in both my fantasy leagues on the off-chance.

This led to me doing some research, and today I even went as far as to speak with an attorney in Cleveland (great use of work hours huh?) to confirm what I was understanding.

My take is that if Josh Gordon files this lawsuit, and based on the knowledge of the case we think we know, he should win both in getting an injunction and the suspension overturned completely.

First, the injunction. In order to get injunctive relief that would allow him to play while his case is heard, he would have to show irreparable harm. That's not easy to establish because he doesn't lose his money for the season, it just extends the end date of his contract, so it's not irreparable.

Two thing help him establish that harm. First he does not accrue a year towards free agency, and football is a time sensitive sport, the older you are, the harder it is to find work.

But even that is thing, because a good lawyer can argue there are no guaranteed, and look at Favre who played 9,002 years.

So we move on to his second point. The Browns denied his request to play in the CFL, which means he can argue that without injunctive relief, he is unable to find gainful employment. That is one judges take seriously, and it is considered irreparable harm.

That should get him his injunction.

But the ban is even easier for him, again, assuming what we think we know about his case is true.

Josh Brown is not an employee of the NFL. He's an employee of the Cleveland Browns. Which means his employment is subject to Ohio law.

In Ohio, there is a law that states before an employee can be punished for a failed drug test, both the A and B samples but be over the limit for that drug.

According to reports, Josh Gordons A sample was over the 15 particles per million standard of the NFL, but his B sample was not, it was under at 13 point something.

So per Ohio law, he cannot be suspended.

When I talked to the attorney in Ohio, who I cold called from a Google search, he told me that was I was reading from the law was exactly the way it should be applied in his state, and he was fairly surprised that Josh had nor already filed suit.

He said he imagines right now that a bunch of law clerks are compiling every case law that could relate to Josh Gordon's case, and handing it off to senior attorneys to compile into a filing with the court.

His statement to me was "I would be shocked to near death if Josh Gordon did not take the field the Sunday after filing this suit and never missed another game as a result of it."

So if you have a spot on your fantasy bench, might be worth stashing him away.
 
My take.....its silly to ban someone for using pot which doesnt lead to any harm while youre under the influence. More and more states are making it legal. If the nfl doesn't think it's part of their players culture then they are greatly mistaken. They should be proactive on this like they are on most things and just get rid of marijuana testing all together. Otcs peds sure..... but what is the point of testing players for pot? Are you truly trying to suspend 70% of the league?

Other than that. ...josh gordon is an idiot.
 
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My take.....its silly to ban someone for using pot which doesnt lead to any harm while youre under the influence. More and more states are making it legal. If the nfl doesn't think it's part of their players culture then they are greatly mistaken. They should be proactive on this like they are on most things and just get rid of marijuana testing all together. Otcs peds sure..... but what is the point of testing players for pot? Are you truly trying to suspend 70% of the league?

Other than that. ...josh gordon is an idiot.

And 90% of players take roids too. Gotta make an example now and then. Gordon is a clown and maybe this wakes him up.
 
What about players who live in states where pot is legal? If they are truly employees of there organization and not the NFL could organizations unilaterally allow it's use? I think that is where your logic goes awry, the fact that he is an employee of the Browns and not the NFL, perhaps it is the transfer payments from tv contracts to teams or the organizational structure (I think the NFL is a non profit or something) or the oversight allowed by the players union but the NFL is the big boss makes the last call over everyone teams and players included.
 
The NFL is not law. They can do quite abit without any recourse..Gordon is just a dumbass..he knew the rules. Give him a year just on his excuse alone "second hand weed smoke" Lol.
 
What about players who live in states where pot is legal? If they are truly employees of there organization and not the NFL could organizations unilaterally allow it's use? I think that is where your logic goes awry, the fact that he is an employee of the Browns and not the NFL, perhaps it is the transfer payments from tv contracts to teams or the organizational structure (I think the NFL is a non profit or something) or the oversight allowed by the players union but the NFL is the big boss makes the last call over everyone teams and players included.

Thats not quite accurate.

Posting racist messages on Facebook is not illegal. But doing so could get you suspended or fired at work.

There are many things an employer can punish an employee for, even though the law allows for it, and in the case of the NFLs drug policy, they can still mandate their players not do drugs, even those legalized in their state.

Employers are prevented from passing policies based on religion, creed, race, color, gender, age, etc... but that doesn't prevent them from continuing to drug test.
 
Michigan, I assume they still have it, is an atwill state..can fire you for whatever..outside religion, creed and all that jazz. Fire you for long hair or tattoo on your foot.
 
I just meant that unilaterally teams can't set policy. Like drug policy for example, even if as you say they are technically employees of the teams and not the NFL. I think they must somehow be subject to NFL and not Cleveland Browns rules and therefore Ohio rules wouldn't apply.
 
The NFL has entered into a collective bargaining agreement which covers the drug policy.

However, the policy must comply with the laws of each state.

Ohio law overrides NFL rules.

For example, the NFL could decide to make a rule that woman can never play. But the first woman to get drafted in Ohio would challenge the rule under Ohio's laws, and she'd win.

The NFL says no drugs, but Ohio law mandates certain steps must be taken in the testing process for it to be valid. Ohio law does hold legal precedence here in the Josh Gordon case, but it would not in the case of, say, a Cardinals player. Arizona law would hold precedence in how the actual testing is done.
 
The NFL has entered into a collective bargaining agreement which covers the drug policy.

However, the policy must comply with the laws of each state.

Ohio law overrides NFL rules.

For example, the NFL could decide to make a rule that woman can never play. But the first woman to get drafted in Ohio would challenge the rule under Ohio's laws, and she'd win.

The NFL says no drugs, but Ohio law mandates certain steps must be taken in the testing process for it to be valid. Ohio law does hold legal precedence here in the Josh Gordon case, but it would not in the case of, say, a Cardinals player. Arizona law would hold precedence in how the actual testing is done.

Then why is Josh Gordon out a year?
 
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Then why is Josh Gordon out a year?

That is my question. If Ink did a couple hours research and found out all of this......why is Gordon and his attorney sitting on their hands? If it were that cut and dry, he'd be getting ready to suit up this weekend.

I'm not saying I know better than any lawyer or anyone here......but if I were Josh Gordon, I'd have filed the day after the appeal was upheld.
 
Maybe he will but I've always understood that the NFL was it's own entity so to speak..and that's it hard for someone, a judge for example, to overturn the NFL.
 
Ink, do you really think Welker and Gordon's suspensions are going to get lifted/reduced?
 
sue the nfl for a billion....don't ever play another snap of football. smoke a bunch of pot.
 
Cant and wont happen. The issue is when Gordon signed his contract he was then made a member of the NFLPA. As a member of the NFLPA he is bound as is every player in the NFL to the what is allowed and is not allowed under the CBA that both the NFLPA and the owners agreed to. The drug policy in the CBA is bargained for. It is NOT subject to state laws. Its governed under federal labor laws but both the NFLPA and the owners are free to have what ever drug policies they see fit. Marijuana is illegal under the current CBA by the NFL. It is illegal even for players who play in states where its legal. Even if a player got a prescription for it they would still have to get clearance from the NFL to use it. Gordon can sue all he wants. All he will be doing is pissing away more money because state courts have no authority over anything listed in the CBA. He already appealed to a federal arbitrator and lost. he lost because it says if you fail 4 drug tests your done for a year. Gordon knew this last year. He was warned by both the NFL and the NFLPA. He was offered counselling which he refused until right before his meeting with the federal arbitrator and even then he was only a patient for something like 4 days. The simple fact is most of us would be fired after one failed drug test. Gordon has failed 4. Playing in the NFL is a privilege and not a right. He broke the rules multiple times and this may be a blessing for him. Maybe working a real job will help him realize playing in the NFL is better. I fully expect him to miss games next year due to the DUI he got after the suspension was known. The easiest way to look at it is. the CBA is a federal document covered by federal work laws and collectively bargained as such. State courts have no authority in a federal matter. There are a few chances he has but they are slim. I have no doubt he has had lawyers tell him they can win it. But he would have a one in a million shot and probably waste more money for lawyers than his contract would pay him. just wait if the start testing for HGH I have no doubt you will see many players get nailed you wouldnt suspect were using.
 
Cant and wont happen. The issue is when Gordon signed his contract he was then made a member of the NFLPA. As a member of the NFLPA he is bound as is every player in the NFL to the what is allowed and is not allowed under the CBA that both the NFLPA and the owners agreed to. The drug policy in the CBA is bargained for. It is NOT subject to state laws. Its governed under federal labor laws but both the NFLPA and the owners are free to have what ever drug policies they see fit. Marijuana is illegal under the current CBA by the NFL. It is illegal even for players who play in states where its legal. Even if a player got a prescription for it they would still have to get clearance from the NFL to use it. Gordon can sue all he wants. All he will be doing is pissing away more money because state courts have no authority over anything listed in the CBA. He already appealed to a federal arbitrator and lost. he lost because it says if you fail 4 drug tests your done for a year. Gordon knew this last year. He was warned by both the NFL and the NFLPA. He was offered counselling which he refused until right before his meeting with the federal arbitrator and even then he was only a patient for something like 4 days. The simple fact is most of us would be fired after one failed drug test. Gordon has failed 4. Playing in the NFL is a privilege and not a right. He broke the rules multiple times and this may be a blessing for him. Maybe working a real job will help him realize playing in the NFL is better. I fully expect him to miss games next year due to the DUI he got after the suspension was known. The easiest way to look at it is. the CBA is a federal document covered by federal work laws and collectively bargained as such. State courts have no authority in a federal matter. There are a few chances he has but they are slim. I have no doubt he has had lawyers tell him they can win it. But he would have a one in a million shot and probably waste more money for lawyers than his contract would pay him. just wait if the start testing for HGH I have no doubt you will see many players get nailed you wouldnt suspect were using.

god damn it ink....you wasted one of my roster spots.
 
You have to understand how the NFL is set up. The players are not employed by the teams they are employed by the NFL. If they were employed by the teams and the CBA was negotiated separately with each team then they would be subject to state laws. But they arent. I think it has a lot to do with the special federal anti trust exemption that sports leagues like the NFL have. You could never come up with a CBA if it had to agree with every states laws. To many would contradict themselves.
 
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