NFLPA fighting to keep Talib on the field

Posted Jun 15, 2011 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jun 15, 2011 at 12:03 PM


By ROY CUMMINGS

The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – It has been suggested all along by some that, convicted or not, Aqib Talib will face discipline from the NFL as a result of his involvement in a March shooting incident in Garland, Texas.

Well, now comes word that conduct offenders could avoid such discipline should the players get their way on one of the key points in the collective bargaining talks.

In a breakdown of the top ten issues being negotiated, nationalfootballpost.com founder and ESPN NFL business analyst Andrew Brandt says the players are fighting for a clause that calls for no discipline for lockout conduct errors.

“Players feel (Commissioner Roger) Goodell has jumped the shark with overzealous discipline in a Policy not collectively bargained. They want an independent arbitrator for appeals and with no governing CBA, no discipline for lockout conduct,’’ Brandt wrote in his NFP column.

As for what the owners want, Brandt writes: “Commissioner Goodell’s effort to maintain the integrity in the NFL has been a staple of his tenure and Owners expect the Policy to continue and apply retroactively to lockout conduct.

That means, of course, there’s still a chance Talib, who has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, will be disciplined and could miss a game or two or more.

But the NFLPA clearly has players’ backs here, so there’s just as good a chance Talib will be free to play a full season, just so long as he’s not convicted of the crime he’s been charged with.

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