Last week, arbitrator Roger Kaplan overturned a proposed two-year suspension of agent Steve Feldman.

The proposed suspension arose from allegations that Feldman sent an unauthorized termination letter to agent Ted Marchibroda, and that Feldman was responsible for partner Josh Luchs’ solicitation of Kyle Young.  Feldman was  represented in the arbitration by David Cornwell.

The reversal of the suspension imposed by the NFL Players Association highlights the need for confidentiality in the process.  For the entire time that Feldman’s appeal was pending, other agents were using the looming suspension against him in connection with efforts to recruit new clients.  If the union were to adopt the same type of confidentiality that applies when players are appealing potential suspensions under the substance abuse or steroids policies, Feldman and others in situations like his wouldn’t be forced to deal with the consequences of a suspension that, in the end, never will be imposed.

Sure, there are problems with the confidentiality of the NFL’s policies.  But at least the NFL tries to prevent players from suffering unnecessary embarrassment while their appeals are pending.  It’s even more important to shield agents from disclosures of this nature before the process has concluded, since their livelihood directly depends on their ability to get new clients, and to keep the ones they have.