his then-fiancé now-wife in Atlantic City a few months ago.
We get that this had to be done and was likely too light but we
applaud the NFL for taking such measures but wonder how exactly they
come up with these penalties?
Take Josh Gordon, another NFL star in hot-water this offseason, as an
example. Gordon is facing a yearling suspension for what is said to
be a violation of the drug policy for allegedly smoking weed. The
guy had a few strikes against him with previous drug issues and has
had a subsequent DWI, so lest anybody feel that bad for this guy.
What bothers us is that Gordon will be suspended (rightfully so) for
doing something that is lawful in about 15 states medicinally and
lawful in two recreationally. The NFL has a policy and he should
abide by it but when they turn around and give Rice only two games for
beating his fiancé so badly that she was knocked unconscious and was
dragged into an elevator by Rice. How does the NFL give that guy
only two games while suspending Mike Vick for a year for a dog
fighting ring or Gordon for smoking weed?
Time to step up to the plate and make your punishments more consistent
with the crime, Goodell
The key distinction here is the repeated nature of Josh Gordon's offenses. It means no rehabilitation, no remorse, and no lessons learned.
ReplyDeleteIf Ray Rice had been arrested on 5 separate occasions for wife beating, you can be fairly certain his suspension would have been at least a year (or even a lifetime ban a la Chris Henry), not just 2 games.
As for Vick, the he was convicted on felony counts and served time in prison. He profited monetarily from criminal activity. Due to that, he was fortunate to only get the suspension he received. I can't think of another current NFL player who was convicted of a felony and served 2 years in prison, all while in the NFL, and is still playing in the NFL.
Misdemeanors, sure. Felony convictions with a year or less in prison, sure. Felony convictions and 2 years while already having made the NFL? Nope.