Since the Ray Rice controversy which rocked the NFL over the summer, league officials have promised changes to their domestic violence policy. Today it appears that all team owners have unanimously agreed to the changes. Hit the jump for details.
Via ESPN:
NFL owners Wednesday unanimously approved a revised personal conduct policy, commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
The new policy takes effect immediately. Among the key changes:
• The policy embraces the use of independent investigations. To that end, the NFL will hire a special counsel for investigations and conduct who will oversee initial discipline.
• The policy will implement an element of leave with pay during investigations of people charged with violent crimes.
• The commissioner will maintain a role in the appeals process but also may appoint a panel of independent experts to participate in deciding an appeal.
Goodell said Wednesday that the person hired to fill the special counsel role will be a “highly qualified individual with a criminal justice background.”
“The person will oversee our investigations and decide the discipline for violations of the policy,” he added.
After the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson cases, a more extensive list of prohibited conduct will be included in the policy, as well as specific criteria for paid leave for anyone charged with a violent crime.
A suspension of six games without pay for violations involving assault, sexual assault, battery, domestic violence, child abuse and other forms of family violence will be in effect, but with consideration given to mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
“The policy is comprehensive,” Goodell said. “It is strong. It is tough. And it is better for everyone associated with the NFL.
“I have stated it many times: Being part of the NFL is a privilege. It is not a right. The measures adopted today uphold that principle.”
The NFL Players Association issued a statement in which it expressed its displeasure of not being able to collectively bargain changes to the policy.
“Our union has not been offered the professional courtesy of seeing the NFL’s new personal conduct policy before it hit the presses,” the union said. “Their unilateral decision and conduct today is the only thing that has been consistent over the past few months.”
The union could consider Wednesday’s vote by the owners as a violation of the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2011, giving the union cause to file a grievance.
Among the union’s options is pursuing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. The players could argue this policy is a change in terms and conditions of employment; the National Labor Relations Act says such changes in unionized situations are subject to collective bargaining.
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