NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and players union chief DeMaurice Smith agreed to continue discussing changes to the league’s personal conduct policy following a four-hour session in New York on Tuesday.
In an email to player representatives afterward, Smith says he made it clear to the league that the union wants due process.
“While the league currently has great concern for its brand, fairness and justice for our members is more important,” Smith said.
“For us, the starting point for these discussions must be the desire to agree upon a fair personal conduct policy and domestic violence rules from a standpoint of prevention and education. We will not accept a world where all players are viewed as perpetrators first and husbands, fathers, sons and brothers second.”
Goodell and NFL officials were joined by Smith, the NFL Players Association’s executive director, Eric Winston, the union president, executive committee members Zak DeOssie and Jay Feely and other union staff.
“As the players and their union recognized in 2007 when the personal conduct policy was initially strengthened, misconduct by a few has a negative effect on everyone involved in the game,” NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said in a statement.
“We look forward to full discussions with the NFLPA on these issues and to implementing a revised policy that upholds the standards that our fans expect and deserve.”
Smith says collective bargaining would provide the best outcome and points to the recent changes to the drug policy as an example.
“There, we achieved independent arbitration, and both sides were able to implement desired changes to the policies,” Smith said.
Season ends for Dolphins RB Moreno
DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno has been placed on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury.
The move came Tuesday, two days after Moreno hurt his anterior cruciate ligament in the Dolphins’ loss to Green Bay.
Moreno had missed the two previous games with an elbow injury. He led the NFL with 134 yards rushing in Week 1.
Moreno signed a $3.275 million, one-year contract in March after five seasons with the Denver Broncos. His injury likely means a heavier load for Lamar Miller, who is averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season.
The Dolphins also reinstated reserve defensive lineman Derrick Shelby from his suspension, which came after he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and trespassing at a nightclub.
Los Angeles extends deal to snag NFL team
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council has given developer AEG another six months to bring pro football back to the nation’s second-largest city.
The council on Tuesday extended an agreement with Anschutz Entertainment Group to build a downtown stadium and lure an NFL team.
The developer has had no luck under a 2012 deal that was set to expire this week. The new deadline is April.
Los Angeles hasn’t had an NFL franchise since losing the Rams and Raiders after the 1994 season.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has said he thinks it’s likely that LA will have a team within a year. He told radio station KFWB-AM on Tuesday that perhaps someone at the NFL owners’ meeting next spring will decide L.A.’s the place.
By wire sources