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NFL Random Thought of the Day

Roger Goodell doubles down on insistence that some requests for anonymity required full secrecy of Commanders investigation
Posted by Mike Florio on June 22, 2022, 10:43 AM ED

Last July, the NFL concocted a flimsy, disingenuous excuse for hiding all facts, findings, and recommendations regarding the 10-month investigation of the Washington Commanders by attorney Beth Wilkinson. The league explained that, because some current or former employees requested anonymity, the full extent of the investigation had to be kept secret.

It’s ludicrous, with all due respect. The NFL simply had to ask Wilkinson to change the names of the employees who asked to be kept anonymous. It’s a common method for striking the balance between the privacy interests of some and the broader interests in transparency and truth.


To little surprise, Commissioner Roger Goodell will double-down on this illogical position when he testifies before Congress on Wednesday. Here’s the relevant excerpt from his prepared remarks:


“We did not receive a written report of Ms. Wilkinson’s findings for compelling reasons that continue to this day. A critical element of any workplace review is broad participation by both current and former employees. Encouraging employees to come forward and share their experiences, which were frequently painful and emotional was essential to identifying both the organization’s failures and how to fix them. To encourage this participation, Ms. Wilkinson promised confidentiality to any current or former employee. For this reason, shortly after we assumed oversight of Ms. Wilkinson’s work, we determined that a comprehensive oral briefing would best allow us to receive the information necessary both to evaluate the workplace as it was, and to ensure that the team put in place the policies and processes to reform that workplace — all while preserving the confidentiality of those who participated in the investigation. Oral reports are often used by the NFL and other organizations in conducting internal investigations and for other issues. If appropriate, we will make public a summary of the key findings, as we did here. We have been open and direct about the fact that the workplace culture at the Commanders was not only unprofessional, but toxic for far too long.

“I am aware that some victims, including those who appeared before this Committee, each of whom was invited to participate in Beth Wilkinson’s investigation, have chosen to share their experiences publicly and I fully respect that choice. Many others made a different choice and it is my responsibility to honor the commitment to protect their confidentiality. I am confident that should there be another investigation at the NFL or our clubs where similar discretion is desired, future witnesses will feel comfortable sharing their experiences knowing that we do not go back on our word. When the Committee has asked questions or requested documents which could violate witnesses’ privacy, we have asserted privilege. We will continue to do so to safeguard our commitment.”

Again, the NFL can honor its word without brushing the truth under the rug. In this case (and perhaps in future cases), the NFL will seize upon one or more persons seeking secrecy as a blank check to bury the relevant information in a hermetically-sealed jar. The members of the House Oversight Committee should make it unmistakably clear to Goodell on Wednesday that the league should not be allowed to parlay a promise of anonymity to specific witnesses into a shield that keeps anyone from finding out the facts.
 
Roger Goodell has testified that the Commanders didn’t notify league of 2009 allegations against Daniel Snyder..............who was accused of asking a female employee her for sex, groping her and attempting to remove her clothes. A large settlement resulted. No NFL investigation was undertaken, nor punishment for the nonnotification, as outlined by the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.
 
The story gets sadder.

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'I got our babies,' promises fiancée of linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, who died at 26
The Baltimore Ravens linebacker and his college sweetheart Doni Smith share three children.
Baltimore Ravens star Jaylon Ferguson died suddenly at age 26 on June 21.

Baltimore Ravens star Jaylon Ferguson died suddenly at age 26 on June 21.therealdoni via Instagram


June 22, 2022, 4:44 PM CDT / Source: TODAY
By Rachel Paula Abrahamson

Jaylon Ferguson’s fiancée is paying tribute to the father of her three children following his sudden death at age 26.

“I got our babies,” Doni Smith wrote in part on her Instagram story. “I’ll forever have you with me through them!!!!!”

“I won’t ever be able to love them the way Daddy did, I need you,” she added.
Ferguson and Doni Smith share three young children.therealdoni via Instagram
The late Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker and Smith, who owns a catering company in Maryland, share children Jyce, 4, Jrea, 3, and Demi, 1.

Smith posted a series of photos and videos, in which the athlete is seen doting on his family, and lamented how “lost” they will be without him. In one sweet clip, Ferguson is seen stretching with two of their children.

The couple met while studying at Louisiana Tech, where Ferguson played football and earned the nickname “Sack Daddy.” He was a third-round pick by the Ravens in 2019.
 
TheRealJoker said:
Highest paid incoming freshmen this year?

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Arch Manning commits to the University of Texas

The latest quarterback from the Manning family has announced his college plans.
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
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If Watson (with his civil lawsuits) commanded 3 first round picks in a trade can you imagine what it will cost to move up to draft Manning? You aren’t getting him unless you are the first pick of that draft.

It will be obvious what teams are tanking in 2025.
 
Last year, it was reported that Apple beat out Amazon.............now............

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Disney, Apple, Amazon have submitted bids for Sunday Ticket
June 24, 2022, 7:30 PM EDT


As DirecTV prepares to conclude an exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket run that began nearly 30 years ago, three companies have made a play to take over the package in 2023.

Alex Sherman of CNBC.com reports that Disney, Apple, and Amazon have submitted bids for the out-of-market package. At this point, the three mega-companies are playing the waiting game.

The league is looking for a partner to pay at least $2 billion for Sunday Ticket, and possibly to acquire a stake in NFL Media, the league’s in-house TV and web conglomerate. Mobile rights also could be part of the package, per the report.

As explained by Sherman, the fact that the league has added NFL Media to the mix has delayed the process. The three companies that have made bids would like to get things resolved, sooner than later.

PFT previously has explained that the winning bidder for the Sunday Ticket package could then sell satellite rights back to DirecTV. Sherman’s report echoes that notion. The challenge will be to strike the right balance between customers who should be expected to purchase the streaming-only Sunday Ticket product and those who are better served by satellite. Restaurants and bars remain a major issue in this specific aspect of the broader Sunday Ticket conversation.
 
Pat Patriot uniforms coming back for New England. They should’ve never given up this uniform.

Too bad the Texans don’t have a great throwback uniform to market……until they somehow get the Adams Family to let the Texans use the Oilers logo and colors in a throwback uniform for the fans of Houston. The fans of Houston had nothing to do with the City of Houston refusing Bud a new stadium or Bud moving the franchise. Worse yet…..Titans fans don’t want anything to do with the Oilers name or colors b/c those belong to Houston.
 
OptimisticTexan said:
Pat Patriot uniforms coming back for New England. They should’ve never given up this uniform.

Too bad the Texans don’t have a great throwback uniform to market……until they somehow get the Adams Family to let the Texans use the Oilers logo and colors in a throwback uniform for the fans of Houston. The fans of Houston had nothing to do with the City of Houston refusing Bud a new stadium or Bud moving the franchise. Worse yet…..Titans fans don’t want anything to do with the Oilers name or colors b/c those belong to Houston.
Click to expand...
Nah. It's been over a quarter century since they last played here. Let the Oilers rest in peace.
 
OptimisticTexan said:
Pat Patriot uniforms coming back for New England. They should’ve never given up this uniform.

Too bad the Texans don’t have a great throwback uniform to market……until they somehow get the Adams Family to let the Texans use the Oilers logo and colors in a throwback uniform for the fans of Houston. The fans of Houston had nothing to do with the City of Houston refusing Bud a new stadium or Bud moving the franchise. Worse yet…..Titans fans don’t want anything to do with the Oilers name or colors b/c those belong to Houston.
Click to expand...
These colors would be fine by me.
1656273767476.png
 
What kind of legal problem does Alvin Kamara have?

After the Saints failed to play in last season’s playoffs, Kamara was called up to the 2022 Pro Bowl (his fifth time). That event was hosted in Las Vegas, during that weekend Alvin Kamara beat up a man in an elevator, that incident turned into a felony battery charge that could get Kamara suspended for 6 games in the upcoming 2022 NFL season.

The man who was hit by Alvin Kamara in Las Vegas is going to take a civil lawsuit against the player for financial damages. Kamara is confronting two main felonies, assault and battery and both carry upto 5 years behind bars.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Colin Kaepernick’s agent responds to Warren Sapp’s claim that Raiders workout was a “disaster”
Click to expand...

I don’t need Warren Sapp to tell me Kap had a poor workout. Players tend to get offered contracts after they have good workouts with a team.

Nobody is defending David Johnson’s recent workout/non offer with the Saints as him having a good workout but just didn’t get a contract. They saw what teams have been seeing since he got injured in 2017 and decided they didn’t need that player on their roster.
 
Kayvon Thibodeaux reportedly "tweaked" his hip early in OTAs and has practiced on a very limited basis. The Giants have said that the injury is "minor" and that he should be ready to go for TC. The 2 injuries that would fit this timeline are hip pointer and hip flexor injury. You would have expected the former to have allowed Thibodeaux to have been able to practice by minicamp............not necessarily with the latter, which is more likely his injury. The thing to keep in mind is that a hip flexor injury is usually a result of muscle imbalance with overuse, and can be prone to recurrence in the future. A hip pointer seldom has long-term implications.
 
House Oversight Committee: Daniel Snyder has refused to accept service of subpoena
Posted by Mike Florio on June 27, 2022, 4:35 PM EDT


Last week, U.S. House Committee on Oversight & Reform chairperson Carolyn Maloney said that she would subpoena Commanders owner Daniel Snyder to testify at a deposition this week. That will be difficult to do if the subpoena can’t be served.
Snyder, according to a Committee spokesperson, has refused to accept service of the subpoena.


Here’s the full comment, via Ben Standig of TheAthletic.com: “Mr. Snyder has so far refused to accept service of the Committee’s subpoena. While the Committee has been, and remains, willing to consider reasonable accommodations requested by witnesses, we will not tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena to seek special treatment no afforded to other witnesses who testified in this matter. The Committee will not be deterred from obtaining Mr. Snyder’s testimony, and we remain committed to ensuring transparency about the toxic workplace culture at the Washington Commanders and the NFL’s inadequate response.”

Snyder just keeps making this harder for himself. He should have voluntarily testified. He should accept service. The harder he tries to dig in his heels, the more determined the Committee will become to take out his kneecaps.

And they will. He’ll be subpoenaed. He’ll have to testify. Unless he chooses to thumb his nose at the Committee, and to accept the consequences.
If he testifies, he’ll have to decide whether to answer questions truthfully, whether to not tell the truth in response to one or more questions, or to invoke the Fifth Amendment.

However it turns out, the process keeps generating more and more drama — and Snyder only has himself to blame for it.
 
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