Suspensions

[outofhnd]

Is it just me, or with this new league conduct policy its taking forever to get punished for these off the field incedents?
Or maybe I am just chomping at the bit to see these guys get a stern reality check. What do you guys think about the deliberation time for all these violators to the league conduct policy?
DO you think this will be a major issue once the season is underway?

[HydrOshocK]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.

[Footballz]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.


Once it are handed out, will the players be able to appeal?

[outofhnd]

Which I find ironic because if you were arrested 10 times at your current job chances are you wouldn't be suspended you would be fired.

[Samer]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.


At least make sure he is suspended for the game against the Texans lol

[outofhnd]

I feel like that this conduct policy is a double edged sword, I think its a good idea but at the same time it creates a mob mentality everytime an NFL player is in the news getting in trouble. Now NFL players personal lives are gonna be monitored much like a celebrities. We now have NFL gossip. It sucks because players trying to get away from the glitz and glam to there comfort of their home and family and friends.

[HydrOshocK]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.


Once it are handed out, will the players be able to appeal?

I'm not an expert on these matters but I believe every player that is suspended has the right to appeal. If he presents his case and the league still rules against him, he has the right to challenge the ruling in a federal court. At least that's the way they made it sound on ESPN. They expect Pac Man to file a law suit, even though he really doesn't have a case. The evidence is so overwhelming that everyone expects the courts to find in the favor of the NFL.

[outofhnd]

So glad he is deciding to make it rain money on attorney's fees. Rather than at strip clubs..
Boy he is really just making himself a Maurice Clarrett type of person.

[ttexan]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.

Who cares about them d*mn animals I think. They need to leave Vick alone about them dogs and become more concerned about the illegal use of steroids in the league. It's not like he's speeding on the freeway going 100 miles a hour with someone in the passenger side, putting everyone on the freeway in danger ( Mario)!!!! Goodell needs look at how the price to get in the games and have a good seat is way to high for the average fan!
I love the Texans but be fair all the way around!

[fico]

Actually Pac-Mans law suit may hold more credibility than you think becuase there is no precident for his punishment . There has been something like 280 so NFL player arrest since 2000 and none of these guys were suspended by the league in the manner in which Pac-Man was.
Having said that I think he should be suspended for the season, given one more chance to comply and if not I think he should be done for.
Just pointing out there is some legal substance for case.

[outofhnd]

Yes but was Roger Goodell the comissioner then? NO...
I think at any other job 10 arrests would probably yield more than just a suspension because the time in jail means days missed. I think you would be fired from any other job for this kind of behavior.

[fico]

I know and I agree with you at any other job you would be fired regardless but this isnt any other job and cant be treated as such. I was just pointing out the perspective that his attorneys are going to take and attack, I was not supporting hsi behavior or aarguing against teh suspension just informing.

[HydrOshocK]

Ya the key factor that didn't exist in the past cases is Goodell's zero tolerance policy and his willingness to enforce it. It wouldn't be as big a deal if it weren't for the repeat offending. When someone is consistently breaking the rules and getting in trouble with the law they need to be held accountable. The suspensions may seem extreme compared to past standards, but those standards proved not to work with today's troubled players. Pac Man might have substance to his case if it were a one-time incident that sparked an unfair punishment, but he's proven he has no respect for authority and therefore the punishment fits the behavior IMO.

[ObsiWan]

Which I find ironic because if you were arrested 10 times at your current job chances are you wouldn't be suspended you would be fired.
First, in Adam Jones's cases, there haven't been any convictions. Not yet anyway. Lots of "incidents", lots of questioning, few arrests, but no convictions. Pacman should be convicted of being really stupid. He needs to take a page out of Ray Lewis's book and dump those guys who are just hanger's on.
In Tank Johnson's cases, there WERE arrests and convictions. On the other hand, he's served his time and seems to genuinely trying to turn things around.
In Chris Henry's case, he's toeing the line; i.e., doing everything the courts said he needs to be doing. Regarding this most recent incident, the Cincy D.A. came out prematurely and said he failed a manditory, court-ordered drug test. 24 hours later they had to back off of that statement to say, there was a "preliminary indication" that he failed a drug test. 24 hrs after that, they had to totally eat their initial statement to say the initial preliminary indication" was flat wrong. Now suppose Goodell had gone with that "preliminary indication" and kicked Henry out of the league? He, and the NFL, would be looking at a fat lawsuit - and rightfully so.
ESPN is becoming more and more a gossip format rather than a sports information center. They tried to make something of the fact that Steve McNair got a traffic ticket - because his brother-in-law was driving Steve's car while "under the influence". Why should a traffic ticket make the sports national news???
I find it interesting that the story about the St. Louis pitcher that was killed in that accident while under the influence of drugs AND alcohol (not to mention had a wreck a month before under similar circumstances) has been quietly buried.
Things that make me go, "hmmmmmm....?"

[fico]

The lack of convictions would be another foothold for the legal wrangling that will occur. His lawyers will argue since he hasnt been convicted then he hasnt technically done anything wrong...... Its not about whether or not he is a good person or a model citizen but rather they would argue how can he be suspended if 1. There is no precident for this type of punishment and 2. He has not been convicted therefore shouldnt be punished for crimes he "technically" didnt do.

The law is black and white like that sometimes, and sometime morality doesnt come into play, and then on other times it does.... It will be interesting to see how this works out.

I think the Comish's new policy is good for the sport and should be adopted by the other two major leagues. Hopefully for the sake of enforcing this policy the lawsuit, when it happens, falls through.... so the Comish's rule can actually clean up this behavior.

I agree the national media is having a field day with player behavior since this policy took affect and blowing things out of proportion. That is what the media does though, they lack sustanance but never sensation. Goddell must toe a fine line in dealing suspensions so that players are still able to live normal lives without having to worry if each little speeding ticket is going to cost them thousands of dollars due to missed games.

[Footballz]

I think Goodell has to take his time and evaluate all of the evidence in each case before handing out punishments. They have to be careful and document everything that's said and done in case the player decides to challenge the league in court, which is what it sounds like Pac Man's attorneys plan to do.
On the flip side, I'd like to see them hand out a suspension on Vick soon. I don't care if he's been charged for anything in the dog fighting scandal.....there's just no excuse for that kind of thing IMO. He had to know what was going on and I tend to believe he was the guy bankrolling it.


Once it are handed out, will the players be able to appeal?

I'm not an expert on these matters but I believe every player that is suspended has the right to appeal. If he presents his case and the league still rules against him, he has the right to challenge the ruling in a federal court. At least that's the way they made it sound on ESPN. They expect Pac Man to file a law suit, even though he really doesn't have a case. The evidence is so overwhelming that everyone expects the courts to find in the favor of the NFL.


Thanks. That's kinda what I thought.
Lol...it could drag out like the death penalty in Cali.