Josh Gordon Hearing Continues Monday
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This is a repost. Long, yet interesting, read....
From the OBR watercooler. I found it interesting if true.
Very interesting legal analysis by Cedric Hopkins.
Cedric Hopkins
I attended the University of New Mexico and played basketball for the Lobos. After back-packing in Europe for a spell, I decided to attend law school. After graduation, I worked for a small firm in San Diego, CA then moved to Tucson where I opened my law practice, The Hopkins Law Office, P.C. I specialize in writing appeals in criminal and civil matters at the state and federal level.
For years, I have researched and written about legal issues but maintained a love for sports. With FieldandCourt.com, I am combining my two passions and researching and writing about sports. When I'm not in court arguing my case before a judge, I'll be doing the same with my articles on FieldandCourt.com.
What to expect if Gordon loses his appeal
"Within hours of losing his appeal (which, of course, I’m assuming he does for purposes of this article) Gordon will file a lawsuit with the clerk of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, the state court in Cleveland, Ohio.Simultaneously with filing a civil suit, Gordon will file a request for a temporary restraining order against the NFL. No, this isn’t what your crazy ex-girlfriend filed against you for calling her too much.
Gordon’s request for a temporary restraining order (or, TRO) will ask the Ohio judge to stop (or restrain) the NFL from enforcing his suspension. If you recall, the TRO in the StarCaps case (that was later turned into an injunction, which is basically the same thing) allowed the Kevin and Pat Williams to play for two complete seasons. They played the 2009 and 2010 seasons while their case was pending in the court system."
"The tougher challenge Gordon faces is showing that he is entitled to relief. I think he is, based on Ohio law.
The strongest claim Gordon will argue is that under Ohio law (but using the NFL’s cutoff levels) he did not test positive for marijuana or, more accurately, THC metabolites.
As I’m sure you know by now, the NFL divides a player’s urine into two bottles: bottles “A” and “B.” If bottle “A” is positive for the THC metabolite, then bottle “B” is used to confirm what was in bottle "A."
According to Section I
(3)(e) of the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy, as long as bottle “B” contains the THC metabolite (at any level), then the sample is considered positive and the player is subject to the league’s discipline.
Ohio law differs.
Under Ohio law (Ohio Code 123:1-76-07), only “specimens which test negative on the initial test or negative on the confirmatory test shall be reported as negative.” If the NFL is bound by Ohio law, Gordon’s confirmatory test was negative. Hence, he did not test positive for marijuana as claimed by the NFL."
"Again, Ohio law says that both the initial drug test and the confirmation test must be positive. Or, as Ohio wrote its law, if either of the specimens are negative then the employer is obligated to report the result as negative.
The NFL will attempt to circumvent Ohio law by arguing only federal law applies to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Substance Abuse Policy. This is a preemption doctrine that will effectively wipe out Gordon's state-law claims. The NFL attempted this argument against Kevin and Pat Williams in the StarCaps case and lost.
Federal courts have already found that the NFL is an employer of each NFL player and therefore is bound by the state laws where that player is employed. So Ohio courts should ultimately decide the case and Ohio law should control the outcome of the case.
And in Gordon’s case, once the confirmation test showed Gordon was under his employer’s threshold amount for marijuana, the test was “negative” under state law. The NFL found otherwise, contradicting state law."
"Because Gordon has such a solid case against the NFL based on the Ohio drug-testing laws, I believe his TRO will be granted and he will play in the 2014 season. This is all assuming he loses his appeal, which he shouldn’t. "Very interesting legal analysis by Cedric Hopkins.
Very interesting indeed.
I'm sure the specter of a lawsuit made Roger's day...
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Report: Browns bracing for at least a half-season without Josh Gordon
Aug 5 2014, 10:59 PMKyle Smith
As Josh Gordon awaits the results of his appeal of a possible year-long suspension resulting from a failed drug test for marijuana, the Cleveland Browns are preparing for at least a half-season without their star wide receiver.
According to a report by Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, league sources are saying the Browns are bracing for Gordon to receive at least an eight game suspension.
Should Gordon lose the appeal, he'll face a minimum one-year suspension, but there's still a possibility the two sides could hammer out a deal that would see the Pro Bowler suit up in 2014.
"As frustrating as it is for Josh, I think he's handled it well,'' head coach Mike Pettine told Cleveland.com. "He's been practicing hard, giving good effort, finishing plays. Assuming if we don't hear anything, then he'll be out there
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In the late 1980's, the Univ. of Colorado had a very good QB named Darius Hagan, Heisman candidate, etc.
Hagan was from South Central L.A. For you younger members, watch "Boyz N the Hood" for a perspective of
where he came from. While in his senior season he went back to the hood one weekend to visit. His high school
coach basically said "It was good to see him, glad he's doing well, now I want him to get the hell out of here
before something horrible happens."
His coach's attitude has been replaced with 'Keeping it Real'. Keeping it Real is code for "we've been friends for
a long time, now you're making a lot of money, it's your responsibility to take care of me and give me money and let
me use your car, etc., 'cause I sure as hell don't feel like getting a job, trying to better myself, 'cause you have to
Keep it Real and let me sponge off of you indefinitely until the money runs out."
Ask Allen Iverson's broke ass how Keeping it Real has worked out for him.
Remaining close to childhood friends is one thing---having them glomm onto you and expect you to take care
of their sorry asses and put your career in jeopardy in order to Keep it Real is quite another.
It may sound harsh, but Josh has too much at stake to continue with this bullshit. Time for Josh to be a man and
pick the leech's off before they drag him under for good.
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When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
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In the late 1980's, the Univ. of Colorado had a very good QB named Darius Hagan, Heisman candidate, etc.
Hagan was from South Central L.A. For you younger members, watch "Boyz N the Hood" for a perspective of
where he came from. While in his senior season he went back to the hood one weekend to visit. His high school
coach basically said "It was good to see him, glad he's doing well, now I want him to get the hell out of here
before something horrible happens."
His coach's attitude has been replaced with 'Keeping it Real'. Keeping it Real is code for "we've been friends for
a long time, now you're making a lot of money, it's your responsibility to take care of me and give me money and let
me use your car, etc., 'cause I sure as hell don't feel like getting a job, trying to better myself, 'cause you have to
Keep it Real and let me sponge off of you indefinitely until the money runs out."
Ask Allen Iverson's broke ass how Keeping it Real has worked out for him.
Remaining close to childhood friends is one thing---having them glomm onto you and expect you to take care
of their sorry asses and put your career in jeopardy in order to Keep it Real is quite another.
It may sound harsh, but Josh has too much at stake to continue with this bullshit. Time for Josh to be a man and
pick the leech's off before they drag him under for good.
In the late 1980's, the Univ. of Colorado had a very good QB named Darius Hagan, Heisman candidate, etc.
Hagan was from South Central L.A. For you younger members, watch "Boyz N the Hood" for a perspective of
where he came from. While in his senior season he went back to the hood one weekend to visit. His high school
coach basically said "It was good to see him, glad he's doing well, now I want him to get the hell out of here
before something horrible happens."
His coach's attitude has been replaced with 'Keeping it Real'. Keeping it Real is code for "we've been friends for
a long time, now you're making a lot of money, it's your responsibility to take care of me and give me money and let
me use your car, etc., 'cause I sure as hell don't feel like getting a job, trying to better myself, 'cause you have to
Keep it Real and let me sponge off of you indefinitely until the money runs out."
Ask Allen Iverson's broke ass how Keeping it Real has worked out for him.
Remaining close to childhood friends is one thing---having them glomm onto you and expect you to take care
of their sorry asses and put your career in jeopardy in order to Keep it Real is quite another.
It may sound harsh, but Josh has too much at stake to continue with this bullshit. Time for Josh to be a man and
pick the leech's off before they drag him under for good.
Exactly. This 'loyalty to old hood friends' is bullshit. They are trying to drag him down. Past time to cut the cord.
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When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
"I don't like people fuckin' wif my phone!"
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Right, and that's why I expect it to be tossed out. But really, pick better friends, don't put yourself in that position. Have another record breaking year. Sign a 6 year extension worth $90m. Get to more pro-bowls. Win a superbowl. Retire to Denver. By a weed farm. Have a permanent bonfire. Visit the HoF. Stay stoned for life. Never get glaucoma.
Lets put this in perspective.
You grow up with childhood friends, who remain your friends through your young 20's. You guys are thick as pea soup, peas in a pod, whatever metaphor you want to use.
And you think its just that easy to drop a lifelong BFF? If so, I don't ever want to be in a position where you are my friend. I'd be afraid that a speeding ticket would get me tossed outta your circle.
Lets put this in perspective.
You grow up with childhood friends, who remain your friends through your young 20's. You guys are thick as pea soup, peas in a pod, whatever metaphor you want to use.
And you think its just that easy to drop a lifelong BFF? If so, I don't ever want to be in a position where you are my friend. I'd be afraid that a speeding ticket would get me tossed outta your circle.
The second I quit smoking weed I dropped ALL my old friends and we were "tight". I HAD to. I still talk to them occasionally and we get together once or twice a year but I realized one of the only things we had in common was that we all liked to get high. They still do, I don't, so I have new friends now...
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The NFL needs to quit taking so long on this shit though. It's unreal. Didn't take this long for the Rice suspension.
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The NFL needs to quit taking so long on this shit though. It's unreal. Didn't take this long for the Rice suspension.
The NFL needs to quit taking so long on this shit though. It's unreal. Didn't take this long for the Rice suspension.
Shit it didn't take this long for the Warren Commission!
WSS
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The NFL needs to quit taking so long on this shit though. It's unreal. Didn't take this long for the Rice suspension.
Shit it didn't take this long for the Warren Commission!
WSS
Shit it didn't take this long for the Warren Commission!
WSS
That is because the Warren Commission had a predetermined conclusion. Hopefully this does not.
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Bump?
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I'm at point where this needs to a full year suspension or nothing.
I say full year, because his contract will be on hold.
How is it fair to the Browns that you can effectively shorten your contract by screwing off & getting partial suspensions?
I don't see any way that it is.
From what I've seen evidence wise, this should be a no suspension deal, but the NFL is in a bit of a damage control mode right now so I don't know that this is going to happen.
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