I actually have zero knowledge of unions other than what I have seen or read.... I do have a fair bit of experience with "risk management" however.

B. Personal Conduct Policy
The Policy received a wholesale revision when then-new NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell overhauled the existing player conduct policy to
include off the field conduct.43 The Policy states, "[a]ll persons associated
with the NFL are required to avoid 'conduct detrimental to the integrity of and
public confidence in the National Football League." ' 44 The Policy gives the
Commissioner the ultimate authority to discipline any violator of the Policy
and the power to review any appeal. 45 The Commissioner's absolute authority
over the discipline and appeals of players may be a hot topic at the bargaining
table.

The way I read this ... This was new verbiage put into the new CBA. I believe I also read somewhere that Goodell demanded it... Which should have raised a big ole red flag for the NFLPA.
http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu...text=sportslaw

Marquette's Sports Law Review apparently identified as a problem before the CBA was signed.


Its risk management, planning for the forecasted and the unforeseen. Smith was paid handsomely to make sure the players were not put in a bad spot... and he has failed miserably.

You never put any one person in absolute control, there must always be checks and balances.

People go batsh1t crazy everyday and protection from that is a must in any legally binding document.