NFLPA files complaint re: Butler

Ross12 said:

I guess when you look at as simply a punishment for missing a voluntary activity, and disregard what the punishment itself is, it makes sense. It just seems odd, in a way, that the punishment is to stop someone from participating in a voluntary activity.

I guess it is technically a violation, then. But if BB were to allow to Butler to suit up but give him little to no reps, that wouldn't really constitute a punishment, would it? That would simply be giving other guys reps, you couldn't really say he was definitively "punished". Maybe that would've been the wiser move...

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There's no "technically" about it. It's a clear violation of the plain text of the CBA. The question is whether or not the Patriots can massage their defense so that the actions could be considered 'technically' acceptable.

Oswlek said:

Which would have actually been worse for Malcolm, since he wouldn't have been able to use that time for things like film study.

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Yeah I know that would've probably been much less productive for Butler, just saying, could've been a way to circumvent a violation. I doubt BB cares much either way.

Deus Irae said:

You cannot penalize a player for missing voluntary activities. That's what was done.

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I see your side, but voluntary is not same as "no rules or consequences of you break them". Eg If you take out Brady @otas you will be in trouble.

neuronet said:

I see your side, but voluntary is not same as "no rules or consequences of you break them". Eg If you take out Brady @otas you will be in trouble.

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Voluntary.


Can we take off the homer goggles for once, for crying out loud?

Oswlek said:

Pretty much this. You cannot claim that the voluntary nature of the event disallows punishment when the punishment in question is removal from said voluntary event. It makes no sense.

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He was late for the start so he wasn't added to the activity. It's easy to get around calling it a punishment.

Sticky Caulk said:

He was late for the start so he wasn't added to the activity. It's easy to get around calling it a punishment.

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Yeah, I can see an argument for that day (no time to warm up, etc., etc.), but why did it go beyond the first day?

Is the NFLPA arguing that players can come and go to OTA's as they please and the coach must allow them to participate when they feel like it?

I thought Belichick went overboard by sitting him that long but I don't think he was suspended or fined, he simply wasn't allowed to partake in on field activities. I don't see how any coach could effectively run OTA's if players are allowed to come and go as they please. I don't think Belichick would have the right to fine him but I also don't see how he can be compelled to allow a player to partake in on field drills when they weren't there for the start of the camp?

Deus Irae said:

Voluntary.


Can we take off the homer goggles for once, for crying out loud?

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You missed my point. It's a simple one. Try again.

Ivan said:

Is the NFLPA arguing that players can come and go to OTA's as they please and the coach must allow them to participate when they feel like it?

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I don't quite think that's their argument. The point is the CBA says you can't punish them for not showing up (or, in this case, not showing up on time), since it is a voluntary activity. I don't know what happened here, exactly, but obviously it's not simple (since Butler isn't actually a party to the complaint; it appears to be purely an NFLPA thing).

Mark Daniels @MarkDanielsPJ
I should add that a team would lose a fourth-round pick if "two separate violations occurred in the same league year" regarding OTAs


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Ha, ha! Well this wouldn't be a worry!!!!

Can't chop off an already armless man's arm.

.

shmessy said:

Mark Daniels @MarkDanielsPJ
I should add that a team would lose a fourth-round pick if "two separate violations occurred in the same league year" regarding OTAs


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Ha, ha! Well this wouldn't be a worry!!!!

Can't chop off an already armless man's arm.

.

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Don't worry, Goody would just upgrade it to a third-rounder in the absence of a fourth.

neuronet said:

You missed my point. It's a simple one. Try again.

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I didn't miss your point. Your point doesn't exist in this discussion. You tried manufacturing one because you're being an emotional Patriots homer instead of a rational and objective human being. This is not a case of misbehavior during drills.

I thought the punishment was excessive if that's what really happened, we don't know whether BB's intentions regarding Butler were to watch film from the beginning, anyway, it surprises me because BB knows the rules from the inside out.

IllegalContact said:

I smell ulterior motive all over this....I wonder if BB is planning on producing as moany opportunities as humanly possible for the NFLPA to go at the team/league

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It's like a cop pulling you over for a tail light. You just know they are looking for anything else, justifiably or not. That's what this seems like. What about that 1st round pick from Jax who blew his knee out in illegal pass rush drills couple months ago? That's not a big deal apparently. Nothing to see there. This, just doesn't feel right.

I'm so deflated over this news....

shmessy said:

I side with the NFLPA on this one.

Right is right.

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I don't fully agree. He could essentially just be considered down on the depth chart and didn't get any reps. The only counter to this is he wasn't on the sidelines either.

Ross12 said:

Don't worry, Goody would just upgrade it to a third-rounder in the absence of a fourth.

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This is what bothers me about them wanting ALL the film.

"Was that a pass rush by Sheard?" Kinda looked like one. That's 2! Now we take your 3rd because you don't have a 4th.

The NFL, NFLPA, it just doesn't stop. Yet zero investigation into Jax. Yep, this is legit.

This one is on Belichick .... don't f.uck with unions

Chiuba E. Obele said:

This one is on Belichick .... don't f.uck with unions

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Just because its voluntary, does not mean the coaches can't do what they want. He showed up late, so put him in the film room. Still got paid, and still got great use of his time. If BB decided that was best that was best. In the militay we had an infamous volun-told policy quite frequently.

Of course Trollin Volin has been quick to post about a 100k fine for BB and 250 for the team first time offenders. Troll.

ctpatsfan77 said:

Yeah, I can see an argument for that day (no time to warm up, etc., etc.), but why did it go beyond the first day?

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CBA does not take away the coaches decision on how to use a player in otas beyond time length and contact. He's not allowed to fine or suspend him and that's easy to say he didn't. This is also not allowed to hurt Butler's standing with the team, which is also easy to say didn't happen because he has been repping as a starter. So the consequent is nothing. The coach didn't use Butler in 6 OTA practices because he wasn't there to start the first one. That's it. He's not cut, suspended, dropped on the depth chart and was not sent home. No games were played, so playing time is a non-issue. How is the NFLPA going to show that this negatively impacted Butler?