NFL Owner Admits League’s New Domestic Violence Policy Is A Public Relations Ploy

The National Football League’s owners ratified a new personal conduct policy Wednesday afternoon, and it took league representatives less than an hour to admit that the new reforms, enhanced in the wake of several high-profile domestic violence scandals, were little more than a public relations ploy.

The new policy doesn’t add new punishments — it enshrines the new punishments Goodell laid out in August — but it outlines a new process for delivering them. A flow chart detailing the policy is on the NFL’s web site, while ESPN has Goodell’s memo to owners.

In short, the new policy establishes a process in which any player who is “formally charged with a violent crime or sexual assault” will immediately go on paid leave. Players can also be put on paid leave in the absence of charges if an independent NFL investigation “finds sufficient credible evidence that it appears a violation of the policy has occurred.” Paid leave will last until the end of an NFL investigation or the conclusion of the legal process, at which point the NFL can hand down discipline. Players can then file an appeal, and the appeal process will include a hearing in front of a new expert panel that can make recommendations to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell will ultimately have the authority to make the final decision on any discipline.

It’s that last part that is most contentious, because aside from the NFL revising this policy without player input, it is Goodell’s ultimate authority to hear appeals that the NFL Players Association opposes most. The union, which according to spokesperson George Atallah was not included in development of the new policy, wanted appeals to automatically go in front of an independent arbitrator.

*Shakes head* | Follow ThinkProgress

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    Thank you for the tag. When I about this earlier, the only part that jumped out is the Commissioner will still have...
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    Ok, good job for finally being honest. Now, do something that will really help. back-of-the-bus sale-aholic
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