Redskins, Cowboys could go “nuclear” over cap mess

Maybe so but that would be seen as vindictive and I don't believe the teams will necessarily line up for that. The skins and cowboys bring alot to the table that they also could use in that type of struggle.

You would hope so, but I got nervous when I saw the 29-0-1 vote with Snyder and Jones out of the room.

Frankly, I thought we'd definitely win until I saw that.

Well this I agree with, but it had seemed like you were saying that the arbitrator could not overrule the league.

I was saying that even if they win in arbitration, they're in trouble in the long run if the Commissioner and 29 owners want them punished.

I think they should go to arbitration and hope for the best. I was saying that if they lose in arbitration or win in arbitration but then get handed a different penalty, they should take it rather than suing the league in court.

and I'd say take it to court because at this point there would be more evidence that the league is trying to continue to soley pick on the Redskins. Since they didn't win in court they would get their revenge some other way would not fair well with the league in court.

Which example? The drug testing?

If the NFLPA had fought this, they would have walked away and gone straight to draft picks before announcing it.

Again, I am not going to keep repeating myself, and you're just spinning your tires at this point.

Many things that are supposed to be in a commissioner's sole discretion end up being adjudiucated in court. It's not the Hammer of Thor or the One Ring you keep pretending it is.

Not going to bother continuing to discuss it.

It's Good That The NFL Is Punishing Washington And Dallas For Breaking No Rules (http://deadspin.com/5896817/its-good-that-the-nfl-is-punishing-washington-and-dallas-for-breaking-no-rules)

His last comment is exactly how I feel now.

I like the sentiment, and I love the NFL getting hammered in the press over this, but that's a lazy article written by someone who hasn't bothered to actually look at the details of the case before writing something sensationalistic.

That said, more hammering the NFL in print over this, please.

Again, I am not going to keep repeating myself, and you're just spinning your tires at this point.

Many things that are supposed to be in a commissioner's sole discretion end up being adjudiucated in court. It's not the Hammer of Thor or the One Ring you keep pretending it is.

Not going to bother continuing to discuss it.

Is your example that "sole discretion" doesn't apply to modifying the salary cap? I agree - and no one ever said he had sole discretion over that. That's why he agreed the modification of the CBA with the NFLPA before he announced anything. And that's why he let one of the owners (Mara) take front and center on it. On the Saints bounty issue, he took front and cented because it was entirely within his authority.

The NFL bylaws give him sole discretion over specific things with specific authority. Within the context of those specific things within that authority, he has sole discretion. The Bylaws even say that the Executive Committee (made up of 32 owners) doesn't have the authority to reduce penalties the Commissioner imposes within his specific authority (including removing draft picks for competitive violations).

No one ever said he had any authority to modify the CBA.

You would hope so, but I got nervous when I saw the 29-0-1 vote with Snyder and Jones out of the room.

Frankly, I thought we'd definitely win until I saw that.

I don't think the 29 vote count should reflect as strongly as you are giving it. First only 6 owners would need to be swayed on any future issue, pretty sure that JJ and DS could sway a few if they really wanted to. Second, this was an after the fact vote where every voter had something to gain-extra cap space. Third, the league needed a strong vote to go before the arbitrator, and there was no compelling reason to vote against it since arbitration papers were already filed.

Bottomline 6 votes is not an impossible hurdle if blatant misuse is being applied by the commissioner or exec committee.

I didn't think the vote count would be different. It'll be interesting to watch this play out. The skins and cowboys have tons of cards to play, but there is definitely risk.

Why would anybody put any credence in this vote? LOL! What did you expect them to do? No sir, we don't want an extra mill on our salary cap.....HAHAHAHA.....

Since this is a Skins message board and we're all skins fans, we're pretty upset about the cap penalty. I think the penalty was vindictive, poorly timed and doesn't make any sense with the uncapped year. Hope the arbitration rules in our favor.

BUT - I want to make sure we all realize that we actually cheated, and Gooddell is technically right.

They apparently had a gentleman's agreement between owners (even if it was illegal) -- and we pulled a NY Yankees move and just outspent the other teams in the uncapped year. We bought up Haynesworth/Hall's contract so we could GAIN AN ADVANTAGE. I mean, I'm happy if it works because I'd be glad we're a better team -- but frankly speaking, any free agents we obtain would be because we outspent every other team in an era where you're not supposed to do that. We had to spend more to compete, to make up for front office ineptitude and crazy ownership.


Don't get me wrong -- I love it, want to be a good team. But at the same time, cheating to get there.. well, I'll let this one slide.