I heard this discussed today on NFL Sirius XM and I find it atrocious.
Here's the way it works: if a player is accused of something by the law.... and there is to be a trial.... the Commisioner can order the player excempted. Player cannot be part of the team in any way.... not even to work out. It is on a purely subjective basis that the Commisioner decides, and is also designed so that the player's team doesn't have to decided on any discipline.
What happens if there is a trial and the player is exonnerated? Oooops. Too bad.
So, the NFL assumes guilt. To protect the shield just in case he is guilty the Commissioner can act. AND, in addition if the player is guilty, THEN they can also begin a suspension action.
Double jeopardy, double penalty.
And this is fair?
