TUESDAY TAVERN TALK….
First some follow up to our Al Davis Raider story from this morning. Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo on 5 June 2008 called “Integrity of the Game and Fair Competition” to all 32 club owners and executives clearly stating his policy and guidelines.
Here is the part that the Raiders failed to take into account when they threw the Patriots, Randy Moss, or anyone else under the bus last Tuesday at their press conference:
This is directly quoted from the memo.
“Second, in assessing discipline for competitive violations, I will take into account the nature and materiality of the violation, the prior record of the party committing the violation, the discipline imposed in comparable cases, the extent of the party’s cooperation in the investigation and all other relevant facts and circumstances. Insofar as possible, I will take into account the actual competitive effects of the violation.”
“Third, we have made clear that those who report a competitive violation must have a reasonable basis for doing so, and are expected to come forward with evidence to substantiate the charge. If I determine that a charge was made in bad faith, is frivolous, or that the club or person making the charge is unable or unwilling to provide evidence to support it, I will impose appropriate sanctions.”
“Fourth, we will make all reasonable efforts to preserve confidentiality and protect those who report the competitive violation. Any actual or threatened retaliation against a person who makes a report in good faith will be grounds for discipline.
So, if the Raiders had a case against the Patriots, there is ample wording and protection to go ahead and make their claim. Why wait 18 months later to make this charge? Might it be that Moss scored 23 touchdowns last year for the Pats?
