John Clayton says Browner could win his appeal

[Laloosh]

Yup, the rules are pretty unfair. What I'm still trying to figure out is was he in stage 2 while with the Broncos? I don't think there has been any definitive indication to say that he was or wasn't, but I'm unsure. Could be the difference between a 4 game suspension and no suspension at all if the NFL sees the unfairness in their testing policies and reduces the initial sentencing.

Even if they started him in stage 2, two years of clean tests would have gotten him out of the program. It's only after entering stage 3 that you're in for life.

 

[gargantual]

I think the big problem in the argument going on here is people's concept of the term "technicality". Some people are more comfortable in seeing the world in absolute, black and white terms. That's easier to accept in general, but when a person walks into a courtroom, the entire legal world is constructed out of "technicalities". Without them, lawyers, judges and the entire legal framework throughout the entire world would not exist! Technicalities are the whole friggin' point.

I would love to see a survey (it'd be fine if it were anonymous) of how many nfl players are in the stage 1 phase of their substance abuse program. I would bet that the number is pretty high and a lot of people would be shocked to see players they love and idolize have made a screw-up at some point...either due to accident (highly unlikely in my opinion) or just youthful indiscretion.

It would be my guess that the people who are saying it's cut and dried and he should do the time for doing the crime are the same people that agree with the statement that if someone is arrested, they must be guilty of doing SOMETHING (I've heard a lot of people say that throughout my almost 50 years of life).

I, myself, am more of the opinion that life is complex and not easily crammed into nice, tidy little categories......oh....and I certainly didn't trust the NFL BEFORE they spewed all BB's private, confidential info all over the media......and now I have even less faith in their impartiality, or their ability to dispense true justice...WHATEVER that might be!

 

[dontbelikethat]

Yup, the rules are pretty unfair. What I'm still trying to figure out is was he in stage 2 while with the Broncos? I don't think there has been any definitive indication to say that he was or wasn't, but I'm unsure. Could be the difference between a 4 game suspension and no suspension at all if the NFL sees the unfairness in their testing policies and reduces the initial sentencing.

Even if they started him in stage 2, two years of clean tests would have gotten him out of the program. It's only after entering stage 3 that you're in for life.

Yup, but if the NFL were to dismiss his missed test, they might just resume to the stage where he was at before he left to the CFL and not just give him the benefit of the doubt to say that he would've been clean for 2 years which is why where he was at before joining the CFL is important. A whole lot of different things could happen depending on how the NFL wants to look at it.

 

[Polaris]

Yup, the rules are pretty unfair. What I'm still trying to figure out is was he in stage 2 while with the Broncos? I don't think there has been any definitive indication to say that he was or wasn't, but I'm unsure. Could be the difference between a 4 game suspension and no suspension at all if the NFL sees the unfairness in their testing policies and reduces the initial sentencing.

Even if they started him in stage 2, two years of clean tests would have gotten him out of the program. It's only after entering stage 3 that you're in for life.

Yup, but if the NFL were to dismiss his missed test, they might just resume to the stage where he was at before he left to the CFL and not just give him the benefit of the doubt to say that he would've been clean for 2 years which is why where he was at before joining the CFL is important. A whole lot of different things could happen depending on how the NFL wants to look at it.

I hear you, and IMHO that's why an official ruling on the appeal is taking so long. I think (I don't know of course) that there are some very confidential and some very high-powered negotiations between Browner's Lawyers and the NFL (and possibly Paul Allen's Lawyers as well). We won't hear anything until all sides come up with a compromise that all parties can live with. I can assure you the NFL wants to avoid a multi-million dollar lawsuit esp if it endangers the CBA.

 

[Laloosh]

Yup, the rules are pretty unfair. What I'm still trying to figure out is was he in stage 2 while with the Broncos? I don't think there has been any definitive indication to say that he was or wasn't, but I'm unsure. Could be the difference between a 4 game suspension and no suspension at all if the NFL sees the unfairness in their testing policies and reduces the initial sentencing.

Even if they started him in stage 2, two years of clean tests would have gotten him out of the program. It's only after entering stage 3 that you're in for life.

Yup, but if the NFL were to dismiss his missed test, they might just resume to the stage where he was at before he left to the CFL and not just give him the benefit of the doubt to say that he would've been clean for 2 years which is why where he was at before joining the CFL is important. A whole lot of different things could happen depending on how the NFL wants to look at it.

You misunderstand. Even in the scenario where they bring him back in stage 2 (which is what you're describing). He came back in 2011. If he were in stage 2 at that time, he still had 2 years of clean tests since then and would be out of the program. This recent failed test would have simply gotten him back into the program at stage 1.

Clear now?

 

[dontbelikethat]

Yup, the rules are pretty unfair. What I'm still trying to figure out is was he in stage 2 while with the Broncos? I don't think there has been any definitive indication to say that he was or wasn't, but I'm unsure. Could be the difference between a 4 game suspension and no suspension at all if the NFL sees the unfairness in their testing policies and reduces the initial sentencing.

Even if they started him in stage 2, two years of clean tests would have gotten him out of the program. It's only after entering stage 3 that you're in for life.

Yup, but if the NFL were to dismiss his missed test, they might just resume to the stage where he was at before he left to the CFL and not just give him the benefit of the doubt to say that he would've been clean for 2 years which is why where he was at before joining the CFL is important. A whole lot of different things could happen depending on how the NFL wants to look at it.

You misunderstand. Even in the scenario where they bring him back in stage 2 (which is what you're describing). He came back in 2011. If he were in stage 2 at that time, he still had 2 years of clean tests since then and would be out of the program. This recent failed test would have simply gotten him back into the program at stage 1.

Clear now?

Ahh yes. Hopefully the NFL dismisses those test and see's this too.