NFL players union asks Roger Goodell to recuse himself from Tom Brady's appeal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Newsday

By BOB GLAUBER

SAN FRANCISCO - The NFL Players Association has formally requested that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell step away from the appeals process involving Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has been suspended four games for his alleged role in the Patriots' use of underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 18.

The players union, which has filed the appeal on Brady's behalf, cited Goodell's inability to have an independent view of the proceedings and asked that he designate a neutral party to hear the appeal. NFL vice president of operations Troy Vincent issued the suspension on grounds that Brady violated the NFL personal conduct policy, but the union argues that only Goodell has that authority.

"Given a process that has contained procedural violations of our collective bargaining agreement, the Commissioner's role as a central witness in the appeal hearing and his evident partiality with respect to the Wells report, the Commissioner must designate a neutral party to serve as an arbitrator in this matter," the union said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "The players also believe that the Commissioner's history of inconsistently issuing discipline against our players makes him ill-suited to hear this appeal in a fair-minded manner."

Goodell did not comment on Tuesday. He is expected to brief reporters on Wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day owners meeting.

FULL story at link.

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.9821123.1431469349!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/image.JPG

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/nfl-players-union-asks-roger-goodell-to-recuse-himself-from-tom-brady-s-appeal-1.10450873