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"Our players are intent on making moves in that direction, and any avenue that it requires us to make that move, we're willing to take because it's not my responsibility to decide the direction of this organization. It's my responsibility to hear that direction and lead in that direction. And that's where they want to go," said NFLPA union president Domonique Foxworth.

Union sources have suggested that negotiations over HGH testing could provide the opening needed for the NFLPA to make a run at the commissioner's appellate power over penalties relating to conduct detrimental. The NFLPA is currently pushing for a neutral arbitrator to oversee the entire drug policy, which include some areas of conduct detrimental -- one example being DUIs. Some in the union have interpreted that a victory on that front could lead to a more broad challenge on conduct detrimental.....

Smith continued that, in his view, the Saints case was absolutely a valid reason to look again at the rules over the commissioner's power.

"The irony of us having a Super Bowl in New Orleans, after what we went through on the league's investigation isn't lost on anyone on our side of the table," he said. "So when it comes to issues of HGH, when it comes to issues of fines, we never engage in isolated issues of collective bargaining. There are a number of big issues out there for us to talk about, and we'll continue to talk about them."

Smith declined to go so far as to say that there's any plan in place to move forward on the subject....

But it's clear that the fallout from the Saints case isn't on the backburner.

"This is important to us," Smith said, "and for obvious reasons."

Read the entire article at NFL.com

TheOak

It's damned difficult to reverse a bad decision on a contract with out leverage.

lee909

They will just be told they shouldn't have signed the deal.
The thing is if the players didnt waste there money the may have done leverage in a lockout.Far too many of the players need there next pay cheque come September and the league knows this and hold tight over certain demands.

NuNu318

I don't think its just the players that wasted their money though. You have to think about it...all those guys that got drafted hadn't even gotten paid yet. Those guys on the practice squads that work probably part time somewhere to keep afloat but depend on those weekly practice checks during the season.....There's a lot of those type of guys in the league as well. I think though it would have been great for their leverage to stand firm and weaken Goodell's power....it wouldn't have been fair for the lower level guys or rookies waiting to get their career started. Not everyone in the league makes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention the employees that work at the stadiums during football season. The lockout going on for longer than it had would have not only hurt players income but those low level employees that get forgetten.

Its easy to say aw they should have just stood firm but the bigger picture involves more than the players and the owners.

lee909

You are completely correct,I am just saying that the players are at a disadvantage over the deals but if they want to get rid of his power they need to hold there nerve.The owners wanted the season as much as the players.Power will never be taken from a commissioner but the players needed somebody to appeal to.He is essentially Judge,jury and executioner and then the same person you appeal too.
I won't change though unless the players find a way of forcing the issue.

Jamessr

I'm really hoping by September we won't be seeing ANYTHING bounty gate related.
I'm ready to move on. All I see is this being is a distraction from playing football.

Rugby Saint II

People are beginning to open their eyes. It's obvious that he has too much power, but they can't negotiate from a position of strength without any leverage. Maybe he'll have a change of heart or lose his job. Although I seriously doubt any doctor would perform heart transplant surgery on Der Kommissar.lol
I never wanted to see anybody fired so badly before.

SloMotion

Good thing thing they got a player's union to protect them from abuses in the workplace and represent them in negotiations, eh? . Without the NFLPA, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on or even be in a position to question Goodell's authority.