Knockout: NFL Commits $100M to Concussion Initiative

On September 14, 2016, the NFL announced a new initiative that targets the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of head injuries. As a part of this initiative, Roger Goodell explained that the league and its 32 owners will devote $60 million toward developing technology that will help player safety, such as improved helmets. The league will also provide $40 million over the next five years towards funding medical research, primarily dealing with neuroscience, or the ultimate effects of the head injuries.

This initiative, labeled as the …

July 26, 2016 NFL

Goodell Prompts NFL Chief Medical Advisor’s Resignation

Embattled National Football League chief medical advisor Elliot Pellman has retired from his position in a decision prompted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. According to sources, Goodell wrote the decision was made in order to “demonstrate strong leadership” and because “players and fans need to trust in the league.”

Pellman, a rheumatologist, has been in the middle of the NFL’s concussion problem over the last few years, and helped create the league’s concussion policies as chair of the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee …

June 30, 2016 Litigation / NFL

NFL Seeks to Block Disgruntled Fans From Refiling Their Deflategate Suit

On June 24, 2016, the NFL asked a Massachusetts federal judge to reopen a previously dismissed suit by a group of New England Patriots fans over the league’s punishments handed down in the Deflategate scandal. On June 10, 2016 a federal judge opted not to exercise jurisdiction essentially dismissing the matter; however, the New England Patriots fans took this purported lack of federal jurisdiction as a license to file their claims in state court. The NFL seeks the federal judge to reconsider their decision not …

June 9, 2016 Litigation / NFL

Deflategate Continues: Pro-Labor Organization Voices Concern About Power of Arbitrator

On May 23, 2016, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a pro-labor federation, filed an amicus brief in support of Tom Brady. This comes after the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the district court and held in favor of the NFL, stating that Goodell properly exercised the authority bargained for in the collective bargaining agreement between the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA). Tom Brady and his lawyer requested a re-hearing by the three-judge panel …

May 28, 2016 NFL

New England Patriots Enter the Fray in Brady and the NFLPA’s Petition to Rehear Deflategate Case

On May 25, 2016, the New England Patriots officially joined Tom Brady’s battle to have the Second Circuit’s decision to reinstate Brady’s four-game suspension reheard. In a rare and surprising move by a team to go against the league in a player dispute, the Patriots filed a motion for leave to file a brief in support of Brady and the NFLPA. This motion stems from a recent Second Circuit decision to overturn the NFL superstar’s voided suspension and the NFLPA’s petition to have a rehearing…

April 25, 2016 NFL

Second Circuit Overturns Brady Ruling, Reinstates QB’s Suspension

On Monday, April 25, 2016, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit voted two-to-one to overturn NFL superstar Tom Brady’s voided 2015 suspension. Brady, who has quarterbacked the league-dominating New England Patriots to four Super Bowl wins this century, was originally handed a four game suspension prior to the start of last year’s football season for his role in the intentional deflation of game balls during the 2014 AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Brady and the NFL Players Association appealed the suspension, …

April 15, 2016 NFL

Arbitrator Upholds NFL Commissioner’s Personal Conduct Policy

On Monday, April 11, 2016, arbitrator Jonathan Marks upheld NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s personal conduct policy that allows him to place players charged with a violent crime on paid leave.

In December 2014, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down a personal conduct policy that allowed him to place players that were charged with a crime, such as sexual assault, on an exempt list. The players placed on this list were given paid leave, however, they were unable to play or practice with their team.

In …

January 7, 2016 Litigation / MLB / NBA / NCAA / NFL / NHL

Sports Litigation and Cases to Keep an Eye on in the New Year (Part I)

2015 was a year full of highly debated controversies in the world of sports litigation. However, the debating isn’t over quite yet as some of the most notorious cases of 2015 will have litigation continuing into the new year. From “Deflategate” to the FIFA corruption scandal, this post is part one of notable sports cases you should be sure to follow in 2016.

“Deflategate” Appeal

Deflategate was one of the most talked about controversies in sports in 2015, as it involved allegations of the ever-popular …

December 23, 2015 Litigation / NFL

Deflategate: NFL Submits Reply Brief in Appeal of District Court Decision

On Monday, December 21, 2015, counsel for the NFL submitted its reply brief to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the “Deflategate” litigation.

In the 2014 NFL Playoffs, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was allegedly involved in a scheme to advantageously tamper with game balls used by Brady in the AFC championship game versus the Indianapolis Colts. The NFL suspended Brady for the first four games of the 2015 Regular Season.

Brady appealed the decision to an arbitrator, who, through the provisions …

December 22, 2015 Litigation / NFL

Judge Dismisses Action Over NFL’s “Undrafted” Series

On December 18, 2015, U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee dismissed a suit against the National Football League (NFL), which alleged that the league stole the idea for their Emmy-nominated television show, “Undrafted.”

Ricky Reed filed suit against the NFL, Roger Goodell, and eight NFL employees in March, claiming that the league had ripped off his idea for the television show “Undrafted.” In his complaint, Reed alleged that he contacted the NFL in August of 2013 to pitch an idea about a show that he thought …