Hanson

FACTS

A. Background In early 2007, Hanson began his employment with the Raiders as an assistant secondary coach at a salary of $160,000 for the first year and $170,000 thereafter. Two years later, in January 2009, Hanson was promoted to assistant coach at a salary of $200,000 per year. In both 2007 and 2009, Hanson signed employment agreements, which contained the following arbitration clause: “Hanson agrees that all matters in dispute between Hanson and [the Raiders], including without limitation any dispute arising from the terms of this Agreement, shall be referred to the NFL Commissioner for binding arbitration, and his decision shall be accepted as final, conclusive, and unappealable.” Hanson also agreed to “abide by and be legally bound by the Constitution, Bylaws, and rules and regulations of the NFL . . . and by the decisions of the Commissioner of the NFL . . . which decision[s] shall be final, conclusive and unappealable.” In pertinent part, the NFL Constitution, article VIII, section 8.3 provides: “The Commissioner shall have full, complete, and final jurisdiction and authority to arbitrate: [¶] . . . [¶] (C) Any dispute between or among players, coaches, and/or…