Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

[stuckincincy]

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/sports/buffalo-bills-dt-marcell-dareus-declines-to-accept-plea-deal-on-accident-charges-1.1188879

I wonder what the status of his felony drug charges is?

[Skooby]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

He's in a program that takes care of the felony charges but this crash incident has to get resolved. Reckless driving is a little steep for crashing your own car & not hurting anyone.

[Goobylal]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Reckless driving is a moving violation, albeit it a major one and Goodell can't suspend him over that (while the Alabama charges should be expunged after he completes his PTI). I can only surmise that they want him to surrender his license and that's why he didn't accept it.

[GingerP]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Reckless driving is a moving violation, albeit it a major one and Goodell can't suspend him over that

Goodell has broad powers to punish players for violating the personal conduct policy, and it has nothing to do with what they are charged with, or even if they are convicted.

The Personal Conduct Policy allows him to impose discipline under any of the following circumstances:

• Criminal offenses including, but not limited to, those involving: the use or threat of violence;
domestic violence and other forms of partner abuse; theft and other property crimes; sex
offenses; obstruction or resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; fraud; racketeering; and money
laundering;

• Criminal offenses relating to steroids and prohibited substances, or substances of abuse;

• Violent or threatening behavior among employees, whether in or outside the workplace;

• Possession of a gun or other weapon in any workplace setting, including but not limited to
stadiums, team facilities, training camp, locker rooms, team planes, buses, parking lots, etc., or
unlawful possession of a weapon outside of the workplace;

• Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person; and

• Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or
NFL players.

Those last couple of items are pretty subjective and pretty much allows Goodell to do whatever he wants.

[Goobylal]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Goodell has broad powers to punish players for violating the personal conduct policy, and it has nothing to do with what they are charged with, or even if they are convicted.

The Personal Conduct Policy allows him to impose discipline under any of the following circumstances:

• Criminal offenses including, but not limited to, those involving: the use or threat of violence;
domestic violence and other forms of partner abuse; theft and other property crimes; sex
offenses; obstruction or resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; fraud; racketeering; and money
laundering;

• Criminal offenses relating to steroids and prohibited substances, or substances of abuse;

• Violent or threatening behavior among employees, whether in or outside the workplace;

• Possession of a gun or other weapon in any workplace setting, including but not limited to
stadiums, team facilities, training camp, locker rooms, team planes, buses, parking lots, etc., or
unlawful possession of a weapon outside of the workplace;

• Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person; and

• Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or
NFL players.

Those last couple of items are pretty subjective and pretty much allows Goodell to do whatever he wants.

Not quite. Given that spice isn't tested for or banned by the NFL, his hands are tied there, especially since the felony charge will get dropped after he completes the PTI. And if Goodell starts suspending players over traffic tickets, the NFLPA will have a field day.

But if you're feeling confident, we can bet on it.

[Skooby]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Not quite. Given that spice isn't tested for or banned by the NFL, his hands are tied there, especially since the felony charge will get dropped after he completes the PTI. And if Goodell starts suspending players over traffic tickets, the NFLPA will have a field day.

But if you're feeling confident, we can bet on it.

I think you're right.

[GingerP]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Not quite. Given that spice isn't tested for or banned by the NFL, his hands are tied there, especially since the felony charge will get dropped after he completes the PTI. And if Goodell starts suspending players over traffic tickets, the NFLPA will have a field day.

But if you're feeling confident, we can bet on it.

This isn't the drug policy, it is the personal conduct policy. They are completely different things. Those items listed are directly from it. The first line states: "All persons associated with the NFL are required to avoid “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

Goodell has wide powers to punish players under the personal conduct policy. I do not know if he will or won't, but he has the power to do so. It doesn't matter if Spice is something tested under the drug policy, and it doesn't matter if he is convicted. All that matters is if his off-field issues are something Goodell feels is "conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

It is pretty clear:

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/personal-conduct-policy.pdf

There are plenty of examples of players getting suspended for violating the Personal Conduct Policy. It was the policy used to suspend Richie Incognito (who wasn't arrested for anything). It was used to punish Saints players after the bounty scandal (again, nothing illegal). It was used to punish Ben Roethlisberger after getting accused (but not charged) with rape.

[Novacane]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

He's in a program that takes care of the felony charges but this crash incident has to get resolved. Reckless driving is a little steep for crashing your own car & not hurting anyone.

LOL. No it's not. Reckless driving is reckless driving. If someone had gotten hurt he'd be charged with much worse!

[Goobylal]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

This isn't the drug policy, it is the personal conduct policy. They are completely different things. Those items listed are directly from it. The first line states: "All persons associated with the NFL are required to avoid “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

Goodell has wide powers to punish players under the personal conduct policy. I do not know if he will or won't, but he has the power to do so. It doesn't matter if Spice is something tested under the drug policy, and it doesn't matter if he is convicted. All that matters is if his off-field issues are something Goodell feels is "conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

It is pretty clear:

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/personal-conduct-policy.pdf

There are plenty of examples of players getting suspended for violating the Personal Conduct Policy. It was the policy used to suspend Richie Incognito (who wasn't arrested for anything). It was used to punish Saints players after the bounty scandal (again, nothing illegal). It was used to punish Ben Roethlisberger after getting accused (but not charged) with rape.

The PCP is there to punish players who put the NFL in a bad light. Big Ben had several rape accusations that conveniently got dismissed or settled, and then this high-profile one, and that's why he was suspended. Outside of Bills fans and maybe Alabama fans, neither the spice nor drag racing charges registered with anyone else because there's not much of a story there.

But again, the offer to make a bet still stands.

[Skooby]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

LOL. No it's not. Reckless driving is reckless driving. If someone had gotten hurt he'd be charged with much worse!

The defense will claim he lost control of his car, since there's not another car claiming damages it makes it harder. There's no where that can legally recognize the speed he was going & his sobriety isn't in question, so I see lots of holes in the prosecution.

[better days]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

This isn't the drug policy, it is the personal conduct policy. They are completely different things. Those items listed are directly from it. The first line states: "All persons associated with the NFL are required to avoid “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

Goodell has wide powers to punish players under the personal conduct policy. I do not know if he will or won't, but he has the power to do so. It doesn't matter if Spice is something tested under the drug policy, and it doesn't matter if he is convicted. All that matters is if his off-field issues are something Goodell feels is "conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League."

It is pretty clear:

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/personal-conduct-policy.pdf

There are plenty of examples of players getting suspended for violating the Personal Conduct Policy. It was the policy used to suspend Richie Incognito (who wasn't arrested for anything). It was used to punish Saints players after the bounty scandal (again, nothing illegal). It was used to punish Ben Roethlisberger after getting accused (but not charged) with rape.

Goodell still has not suspended Marshawn Lynch who was arrested on a DUI last summer. If anyone could be charged under the personal conduct policy, it is Lynch.

[GingerP]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

But again, the offer to make a bet still stands.

I am not sure what you are betting, that he will get suspended? I don't know if he will or won't, my guess is he gets a 1-3 game suspension eventually. However, I am not sure what actually happens since it is really up to Roger Goodell and nobody else. However, it is a certainty he can be disciplined, as the policy has been violated just by his 2 arrests.

Just look at Aaron Berry. He got arrested twice in a month (DUI & pointing a gun at a guy in road rage incident). Though charged, he wasn't convicted on either charge before being suspended for 3 games (after Detroit released him). That is a similar deal to what Dareus went through this offseason.

I am hoping Goodell takes it easy on him, but he can be suspended. The Personal Conduct Policy allows Goodell to suspend guys just for making the NFL look bad. Dareus made the situation worse, because the Bills found out about both his arrests through the press. A player is required to inform his team when he gets in trouble, and just failing to do that makes Dareus situation worse. However, it is unlikely Goodell does anything until the charges play out, either through a plea deal or court. No matter what happens with them, though, he is subject to discipline at Goodell's discretion.

[better days]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

And aside from the DUI & hitting a pedestrian in Buffalo, Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in LA where he had a semi automatic in his car trunk.

[GingerP]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

And aside from the DUI & hitting a pedestrian in Buffalo, Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in LA where he had a semi automatic in his car trunk.

Yes, and he received a 3 game suspension from Goodell.

[better days]

Re: Dareus rejects plea deal on alleged street racing crash

Yes, and he received a 3 game suspension from Goodell.

He has not had any suspension since being arrested the DUI.