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Technically, hammering is just another way to knock on wood if you’re with me.
Former Raiders coach John Gruden has won a major preliminary victory in his case against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Through Caitlin Newberg of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, District Judge Nancy Alf rejected the NFL’s request to dismiss the case and, more importantly, the NFL’s proposal to force arbitration.
This means (if he stays) that Gruden’s case will continue in open court, not in the secret NFL kangaroo court.
This is a victory for both fans and the media, as it means that a much greater degree of transparency will apply to the battle. This means that, with the exception of a quick and quiet settlement, we will find out who leaked the emails that forced Gruden to leave, and much more.
“We will leave the process to itself,” Gruden said outside the courtroom through AJ Perez of FrontOfficeSports.com. “Success for the Raiders. Go Raiders. I have nothing [else] to comment. This process will take care of itself. It’s good to be back in Vegas. I’m going to see friends tonight. “
The NFL tried to point out the content of the emails, which were obviously inappropriate. Gruden’s lawyers cited the case over the NFL’s alleged efforts to oust Gruden, giving emails to the media.
Making the decision stronger is the fact that Judge Alf ruled in court. This does not happen often. This happens when the right decision is so clear from the written statements and the applicable precedent that there is nothing that can be said or done in open court to change the outcome. This is the closest thing a referee can do to strengthen football in the face of a losing country.
According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league would appeal the decision. Of course it will. She will fight, scratch and pinch to try to keep this case out of the public eye.
The NFL, for example, has worked to force the dispute to move St. Louis to arbitration all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Ask the league to do the same here.
The NFL hates losing in court. The best chance to avoid losing in court is to direct the fight to your own internal processes, where the result is certain and the facts remain hidden.
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