Sports Law Links: NFL Edition

Each week The Sports Esquires typically updates you on all the important headlines in the sports law world.  Since our website has been under construction lately, we want to make sure you’re caught up on all the sports law developments you might have missed.  Just for this week we’ll be doing a daily version of our weekly Sports Law Links to get you up to speed on anything you might have missed.  Today’s links are all about the NFL’s legal issues: the Benson saga, the Hernandez trial, the Sharper plea deal, De Smith’s re-election, and more.

• The Benson saga continues: the Saints owner appealed the Texas decision that removed him as steward of his family trust. More on the judge’s decision.  Benson’s appellate brief.  Internal emails reveal the fractured family relationship.  Benson underwent a mental evaluation from three doctors.
• Michael McCann’s thorough coverage of the Aaron Hernandez trial continues: Day 24, Day 25, Day 26, Day 27, Day 28, Day 29, Day 30, Day 31, Day 32, and Day 33. The trial was interrupted by a bomb threat. Greg Bedard: an enigma on trial.  The importance of Hernandez’s fiancée’s testimony.  The most dramatic day of the trial so far.
• Former player Darren Sharper, already facing sexual assault charges in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, was recently charged with rape in Las Vegas. Sharper subsequently reached a global plea deal which will resolve all pending charges in the four states where he has been indicted.  More details on the New Orleans rape case.  More on the plea deal sentencing.  Michael McCann analyzed the “odd” deal.  Sharper’s next steps.
• DeMaurice Smith was re-elected as the NFLPA’s executive director. Will anything change?  Patrick Hruby criticized Smith’s tenure with the NFLPA.  Nancy Armour called the election a “clown car.”
• The league sent a memo to teams about early agreements before the free agency period. Jaime Miettinen called it a hollow demonstration of the power.
• A Texas jury determined that the NFL breached its Super Bowl ticket contract. Both sides declared victory.
• The First Amendment and the Redskins Trademark: government speech. The Department of Justice defended the decision to revoke the team’s “Redskins” trademark.
• Andrew Brandt analyzes a few NFL contracts and discusses preemptive retirements.
• Antrel Rolle claims his tax lawyer defrauded him of $1.8 million.
• Ray Lewis is suing a former business partner over a failed development project.
• The NFL will not have television blackouts in 2015.
• The Jets have filed tampering charges against the Patriots over Darrelle Revis comments.
• A new report predicts the Falcons and Browns will face harsh punishments for league violations.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have settled their lawsuit with former cheerleaders.