Steelers MMQB: NFL Offseason News
By Kim Myers
What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:
- A Second Arbitrator rules in Goodell’s favor for bounty punishments
- Broncos LB DJ Williams tweets part of playbook
- Ochocinco cut from Pats
- Big Ben and wife expecting a Little Ben
In this week’s edition of the reality show that has become the NFL offseason, Goodell gets more confirmation that he alone holds ultimate power over the players as a second arbitrator ruled in his favor in a grievance filed by the NFLPA. The players association tried to argue that Goodell was prohibited from punishing players for any conduct before the CBA was signed and that the player appeals should be heard by Art Shell and Ted Cottrell instead of Goodell. But like the judgment before this one, the arbitrator ruled that Goodell is entitled to hand out the punishment alone and handle the appeal alone. The NFLPA states it will appeal the decisions but that seems rather futile at this point. The four players Goodell suspended in relation to the bounty program in New Orleans will have their appeals heard by Goodell on June 18th. I would say there’s a greater chance that the city of Cleveland becomes the next powerhouse in all of professional sports than these players get any of their suspensions reduced or overturned.
The latest bonehead move of the week belongs to Denver LB DJ Williams, who tweeted not only a position change but also a picture of a page in the Broncos defensive playbook. Williams followed the tweet with an explanation of;
"“Coach just told me I have to learn a new position over the weekn. We have iPads as playbooks now, but I’m old skill I’m using flash cards.”"
Good for you buddy, you work those flash cards. Unfortunately though, the team had to reach out to Williams and request he delete the tweets containing pictures of the playbook teams are usually very secretive about. In this day and age the playbooks are now being handed out electronic devices rather than handy-dandy notebooks, but the message still was the same, “Don’t let anyone see this”. Apparently to Williams that meant; “But totally tweet this to your followers so they see how busy you are.” I happen to love Twitter, I can’t get enough of it and part of the reason why I love it is stuff like this. You never know what someone might say within those 140 characters that will entertain you to no end. Or at least until the next tweet.
Speaking of playbooks, a player that never could wrap his head around his last playbook, Chad Ochocinco, was released by the Patriots last week after they tried unsuccessfully to trade him. Chad had spent just one season with the Pats, mostly hanging out on the sidelines keeping the training staff company. Ochocinco now finds himself in similar territory as his former teammate T.O. who was a much more talented WR than Ocho, but still can’t land a job in the NFL. There is no truth yet to the rumor that VH1 is attempting to start an NFL team that will consist of T.O., Ochocinco, Flava Flav and a bunch of women trying to date them and throw wine bottles at each other. Reports are that Ocho was seen working out in Miami over the weekend. I genuinely feel bad for Dolphins fans at times. With the failed attempts to land Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Fisher, and Peyton Manning, the Dolphins have become like the desperate drunken girl at the bar that’s trying to find someone to take her home. Signing Ochocinco to their roster wouldn’t be the worst thing they could do, but it’s pretty friggin close.
Ben Roethlisberger announced this weekend via website that he and wife Ashley are expecting a son later this year. It’s been a busy offseason for Ben already with turning 30 and graduating from the University of Miami (Ohio) earlier this spring. Seems like Ben has turned his life around quite drastically from the days of bar hopping and motorcycle accidents. Congratulations to the happy couple and here’s hoping for the kid’s sake he gets his mothers nose. If he needs any tips on raising a yinzer, he should consult the hilarious Pittsburgh Dad.
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