 }})
Mike Florio
Guest
Most criminal prosecutions linger for months. For 49ers owner Jed York, it ended almost as quickly as it started.
And with York pleading no contest to charges of disorderly conduct (originally, "engaging in prostitution") and possession of "criminal tools" on Monday, only one day after his arrest in East Palestine, Ohio, the NFL has no reason to delay imposing punishment under the Personal Conduct Policy.
The league has said it's reviewing the case. Coincidentally, the owners will meet in Atlanta on Wednesday to vote on the proposed sale of the Seahawks to a group led by Vinod Khosla.
York's legal imbroglio will surely be a hot topic at the Georgia gathering of oligarchs. It also will give Commissioner Roger Goodell a chance to seek face-to-face input from the most influential owners as to the best strategy for proceeding.
The league could negotiate a punishment with York, which would result in an announcement of the discipline and no appeal. Barring a deal, the league would eventually issue its decision, with York then activating the internal process for getting Goodell to revisit the decision Goodell has already made.
It makes sense to move quickly. In 16 days, the 49ers play the Rams in the NFL's first-ever foray to Australia. Questions about York will be unavoidable. If the NFL has fully resolved the case by then, it will be easy to respond by referring to the outcome.
Of course, this presumes that the outcome will entail a punishment that isn't regarded as a slap on the wrist, in comparison to the discipline that would be imposed on a player for similar conduct. This could require the league to overshoot in its punishment; if Goodell's initial inclination is, for example, to give York a two-game suspension, Goodell may feel compelled to double it.
It's ultimately a P.R. decision — and the Personal Conduct Policy is fundamentally a P.R. tool. It's rooted in the notion that it's a privilege to be involved in the NFL.
If it's a privilege for the players, it's a privilege for the owners.
Politically, it becomes delicate. Other owners will be sensitive to the creation of a standard that could, eventually, be applied to them. Of course, most other owners would hopefully not find themselves in similarly tawdry predicaments.
Some on the outside have suggested that York should be forced to give up his ownership stake, either by transferring it back to his parents or by selling. Over the past decade, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson promptly sold the franchise he founded after multiple settlements of workplace misconduct claims came to light. Also, Commanders owner Daniel Snyder eventually was pushed out, following multiple problems that sparked multiple investigations of the franchise.
Regardless of whether York gets a not-so-gentle push, he could decide to walk. Especially if/when any bodycam footage from his arrest emerges — and potentially adds to the overall humiliation of the situation.
The situation is still fresh. But the time is already ripe for the NFL to act. And there's no reason for the league to delay imposing discipline for one of the most bizarre unforced errors the NFL has seen in recent years, if not ever.
Continue reading...
And with York pleading no contest to charges of disorderly conduct (originally, "engaging in prostitution") and possession of "criminal tools" on Monday, only one day after his arrest in East Palestine, Ohio, the NFL has no reason to delay imposing punishment under the Personal Conduct Policy.
The league has said it's reviewing the case. Coincidentally, the owners will meet in Atlanta on Wednesday to vote on the proposed sale of the Seahawks to a group led by Vinod Khosla.
York's legal imbroglio will surely be a hot topic at the Georgia gathering of oligarchs. It also will give Commissioner Roger Goodell a chance to seek face-to-face input from the most influential owners as to the best strategy for proceeding.
The league could negotiate a punishment with York, which would result in an announcement of the discipline and no appeal. Barring a deal, the league would eventually issue its decision, with York then activating the internal process for getting Goodell to revisit the decision Goodell has already made.
It makes sense to move quickly. In 16 days, the 49ers play the Rams in the NFL's first-ever foray to Australia. Questions about York will be unavoidable. If the NFL has fully resolved the case by then, it will be easy to respond by referring to the outcome.
Of course, this presumes that the outcome will entail a punishment that isn't regarded as a slap on the wrist, in comparison to the discipline that would be imposed on a player for similar conduct. This could require the league to overshoot in its punishment; if Goodell's initial inclination is, for example, to give York a two-game suspension, Goodell may feel compelled to double it.
It's ultimately a P.R. decision — and the Personal Conduct Policy is fundamentally a P.R. tool. It's rooted in the notion that it's a privilege to be involved in the NFL.
If it's a privilege for the players, it's a privilege for the owners.
Politically, it becomes delicate. Other owners will be sensitive to the creation of a standard that could, eventually, be applied to them. Of course, most other owners would hopefully not find themselves in similarly tawdry predicaments.
Some on the outside have suggested that York should be forced to give up his ownership stake, either by transferring it back to his parents or by selling. Over the past decade, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson promptly sold the franchise he founded after multiple settlements of workplace misconduct claims came to light. Also, Commanders owner Daniel Snyder eventually was pushed out, following multiple problems that sparked multiple investigations of the franchise.
Regardless of whether York gets a not-so-gentle push, he could decide to walk. Especially if/when any bodycam footage from his arrest emerges — and potentially adds to the overall humiliation of the situation.
The situation is still fresh. But the time is already ripe for the NFL to act. And there's no reason for the league to delay imposing discipline for one of the most bizarre unforced errors the NFL has seen in recent years, if not ever.
Continue reading...