The Sports Esquires Putting Sports on Trial

Dallas County Prosecutors recently agreed to conditionally dismiss a misdemeanor assault charge against ex-Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Now that a deal on Manziel’s case has been reached, it’s likely that the NFL will pick up its investigation of the incident and move towards suspending Manziel.

The NBA is in the midst of an unprecedented three-year transition during which its salary cap will nearly double from $63 million to around $102 million. What have we learned from a free agency unlike any other we’ve seen, and how will this unusual offseason impact the league’s looming CBA negotiations?

Long before Sam Hinkie asked Philadelphia 76ers fans to trust the process, there was Charlie Finley. Long before Roger Goodell became known as the most notorious commissioner in professional sports, there was Bowie Kuhn. One of the most famous sports law cases in history saw these two face off in a battle of egos that would impact the world of sports in a way that resonates today.

Last month the NLRB issued an advice memorandum concerning the Northwestern football handbook, and the team’s unlawful social media rules. A footnote in the memo assumes for the purposes of the memo that Northwestern’s scholarship football players are employees. This memo was one person assuming an employee status in a limited circumstance, not a reversal of last year’s NLRB ruling, and is still miles away from the NLRB declaring student-athletes to be employees.

A garden-variety breach of contract suit quickly became a case with precedent setting potential for the Daily Fantasy Sports industry when one of the leading providers of DFS games recently asked a federal court to declare its fantasy sports offerings illegal under state and federal law.

United Kingdom citizens voted to leave the European Union. With the prospect of leaving the European Economic Area, as well as losing the freedom of movement for workers within the EU, the Premier League could suddenly be on the outside looking in. British leagues and players could be adversely affected by Brexit without some significant legislative changes within the UK, FIFA, and UEFA.

Each week The Sports Esquires keep track of the sports law headlines so you don’t have to. This week’s edition features the NCAA, daily fantasy sports, and more.