Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Since National Football League teams are allowed to act jointly as a multi-employer bargaining entity which allows them to structure the rules of playing, player employment, and more specifically, player eligibility. This is all permitted through federal labor policy. By allowing the teams to act collectively, they must also bargain with the players’ union over the terms and conditions of the rules aforementioned. The Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit stated:
follow up
The Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit ultimately stated that “…we find that to regard the National Football League’s Eligibility Rules as merely permissive bargaining subjects ‘would ignore the reality of collective bargaining in sports’” 28.
While Clarett argued that the Eligibility Rules are impermissible because they affect players outside of the union, the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit rendered them permissible based on the assumption that the criteria for employment is set by the players’ union rather than the National Football League 29. Consequently, the Rule does affect a mandatory subject of collective bargaining despite it relating to prospective players rather than current players. In this regard, Judge Scheindlin’s decision was rightfully overturned and the correct ruling was made by the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit.
While Clarett argued that the Eligibility Rules are impermissible because they affect players outside of the union, the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit rendered them permissible based on the assumption that the criteria for employment is set by the players’ union rather than the National Football League 29. Consequently, the Rule does affect a mandatory subject of collective bargaining despite it relating to prospective players rather than current players. In this regard, Judge Scheindlin’s decision was rightfully overturned and the correct ruling was made by the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit.
more
the Eligibility Rules has a substantial effect on the working conditions and wages of the current National Football League players that would be affected by the National Football League of young competitors, in this case, Clarett. As a result, the Eligibility Rules should not be looked at in isolation to all the other rules stated in the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws. Through the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Football League Players’ Association agreed to the Constitution and Bylaws that the National Football League set forth and therefore must adhere to those rules despite not having actually bargained over the specifications of the Eligibility Rules.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Updated blog
Blog 3 - This paper will examine why the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit came to the correct decision by reversing the District Court’s decision, ultimately barring Clarett from the 2004 National Football League Draft. I am going to explain why the National Football League’s Eligibility Rules fell within the scope of nonstatutory exemption to antitrust review as well as the fact that the National Football League and players’ union did not bargain over the Eligibility Rules did not exclude the rule from the scope of nonstatutory exemption. I will do so by applying the National Football League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws, as well as, antitrust laws and federal labor laws to this case.
Blog 4- . In 1990, the National Football League’s seasons must conclude after the player’s high school graduation before the player could enter the draft. Clarett’s claim of being ready, willing, and able to play in the National Football League, was countered by the National Football League with several justifications defending its Collective Bargaining Agreement “First, the National Football League contends that the Rule protects the people it excludes because they ‘are not sufficiently mature, either physically or psychologically, to endure the rigors of professional football.’ Second, the Rule protects member clubs who might suffer financial adversity resulting from younger players’ peculiar susceptibility to injury. Third, the Rule protects the League and its ‘entertainment product from the adverse consequences associated with such injuries.’ Fourth, the Rule protects young players who, if they declare but are not drafted, would lose their eligibility to play college football, or who might over-train or experiment with enhancing drugs to speed their athletic development”
Blog 5 - The National Football League contested Clarett’s antitrust claim by saying that the Eligibility Rules were protected from antitrust scrutiny because of non-statutory labor exemptions that the National Football League placed on prospective players with their Constitution and Bylaws, as well as the their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Football League Players’ Association. The National Football League had set up the correct defense and would be able to apply the National Labor Relations Act, as well as several other federal labor laws that arose from various cases, in which agreements on certain subjects can be exempt from antitrust laws.
Blog 6- the Eligibility Rules in the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws. The National Labor Relations Act states: “To bargain collectively is the performance of the mutual obligation of the employer and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment, or the negotiation of an agreement.”
Blog 7- Also, the Eligibility Rules has a substantial effect on the working conditions and wages of the current National Football League players that would be affected by the National Football League of young competitors, in this case, Clarett. As a result, the Eligibility Rules should not be looked at in isolation to all the other rules stated in the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws. Through the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Football League Players’ Association agreed to the Constitution and Bylaws that the National Football League set forth and therefore must adhere to those rules despite not having actually bargained over the specifications of the Eligibility Rules.
Blog 8- As a result of the National Football League Players’ Association agreeing with the National Football League to waive any challenge to the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Football League, they were unable to make an exception to the Eligibility Rules. I feel that the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit made the correct decision in overturning the District Court’s ruling considering that the National Football League Players’ Association was in fact aware of the terms and conditions that the National Football League had instilled regarding the Eligibility Rules and hence agreed to waive all rights concerning the Collective Bargaining Agreement including provisions in the National Football League Constitution and Bylaws.
Blog 4- . In 1990, the National Football League’s seasons must conclude after the player’s high school graduation before the player could enter the draft. Clarett’s claim of being ready, willing, and able to play in the National Football League, was countered by the National Football League with several justifications defending its Collective Bargaining Agreement “First, the National Football League contends that the Rule protects the people it excludes because they ‘are not sufficiently mature, either physically or psychologically, to endure the rigors of professional football.’ Second, the Rule protects member clubs who might suffer financial adversity resulting from younger players’ peculiar susceptibility to injury. Third, the Rule protects the League and its ‘entertainment product from the adverse consequences associated with such injuries.’ Fourth, the Rule protects young players who, if they declare but are not drafted, would lose their eligibility to play college football, or who might over-train or experiment with enhancing drugs to speed their athletic development”
Blog 5 - The National Football League contested Clarett’s antitrust claim by saying that the Eligibility Rules were protected from antitrust scrutiny because of non-statutory labor exemptions that the National Football League placed on prospective players with their Constitution and Bylaws, as well as the their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Football League Players’ Association. The National Football League had set up the correct defense and would be able to apply the National Labor Relations Act, as well as several other federal labor laws that arose from various cases, in which agreements on certain subjects can be exempt from antitrust laws.
Blog 6- the Eligibility Rules in the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws. The National Labor Relations Act states: “To bargain collectively is the performance of the mutual obligation of the employer and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment, or the negotiation of an agreement.”
Blog 7- Also, the Eligibility Rules has a substantial effect on the working conditions and wages of the current National Football League players that would be affected by the National Football League of young competitors, in this case, Clarett. As a result, the Eligibility Rules should not be looked at in isolation to all the other rules stated in the National Football League’s Constitution and Bylaws. Through the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Football League Players’ Association agreed to the Constitution and Bylaws that the National Football League set forth and therefore must adhere to those rules despite not having actually bargained over the specifications of the Eligibility Rules.
Blog 8- As a result of the National Football League Players’ Association agreeing with the National Football League to waive any challenge to the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Football League, they were unable to make an exception to the Eligibility Rules. I feel that the Court of Appeals, for the 2nd Circuit made the correct decision in overturning the District Court’s ruling considering that the National Football League Players’ Association was in fact aware of the terms and conditions that the National Football League had instilled regarding the Eligibility Rules and hence agreed to waive all rights concerning the Collective Bargaining Agreement including provisions in the National Football League Constitution and Bylaws.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
RULES
"In two separate motions, the NFL asks for summary judgment on its defenses that (1) the Rule is protected from antitrust scrutiny by the nonstatutory labor exemption; and (2) Clarett lacks antitrust standing." This quote comes from findlaw.com, the reason this quote significant is because its challenging the labor exemption law the NFL has protected, according to its bylaws.
"The NFL also points to Article IX of the CBA, in which the NFLPA
and NFLMC agree to resolve any dispute they may have involving the
interpretation or application of the CBA, the Constitution, or the Bylaws in
accordance with the CBA’s grievance procedure. See id., Ex. F. The existence of
Article IX proves only that the parties bargained over a grievance procedure, not
that they bargained over the Constitution and Bylaws themselves. "
"The NFL also points to Article IX of the CBA, in which the NFLPA
and NFLMC agree to resolve any dispute they may have involving the
interpretation or application of the CBA, the Constitution, or the Bylaws in
accordance with the CBA’s grievance procedure. See id., Ex. F. The existence of
Article IX proves only that the parties bargained over a grievance procedure, not
that they bargained over the Constitution and Bylaws themselves. "
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
2nd blog follow up to blow 1; check it out!!!!
According the New York Times from an article that dates back to 2005. Clarett claimed that he is ready, willing and able to play in the National Football League and that his exclusion violates the antitrust laws, that were set up by the National Football League.
What most people tend to forget is that Clarett is only 19 years old. Some people might say that Clarett is ready for the NFL and some might say his teenage body is not ready for the NFL. You could argue that some are looking out for Clarett by ruling that he should have been at least three years removed from high school.
What most people tend to forget is that Clarett is only 19 years old. Some people might say that Clarett is ready for the NFL and some might say his teenage body is not ready for the NFL. You could argue that some are looking out for Clarett by ruling that he should have been at least three years removed from high school.
1st post
In 2004, Maurice Clarett filed a suit against the National Football League claiming that the National Football League’s Eligibility Rules violated antitrust laws. The National Football League had instituted a rule that limited “eligibility to players three seasons removed from their high school graduation." Clarett claimed that he is ready, willing and able to play in the National Football League and that his exclusion violates the antitrust laws, that were set up by the National Football League. The Antitrust Law is defined by West’s Encyclopedia of American Law as,
“Legislation enacted by the federal and various state governments to regulate trade and commerce by preventing unlawful restraints, price-fixing, and monopolies, to promote competition, and to encourage the production of quality goods and services at the lowest prices, with the primary goal of safeguarding public welfare by ensuring that consumer demands will be met by the manufacture and sale of goods at reasonable prices. Antitrust law seeks to make business compete fairly"
“Legislation enacted by the federal and various state governments to regulate trade and commerce by preventing unlawful restraints, price-fixing, and monopolies, to promote competition, and to encourage the production of quality goods and services at the lowest prices, with the primary goal of safeguarding public welfare by ensuring that consumer demands will be met by the manufacture and sale of goods at reasonable prices. Antitrust law seeks to make business compete fairly"
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