My view on suspensions...

[Jetstream Green]

Right off the bat, I think what Ray Rice did was inexcusable and the man should be behind bars or some kind of jail sentence. I do not do drugs, but personally do not see the big problem with marijuana. My point is this, there is a judicial court system in this country and it should decide whether or not a player should play due to an offense. Meaning, if the man is not prohibited to do other aspects of life by the law, then he should be able to carry on with his job. I think the NFL acting as a secondary court system on offenses and implementing suspensions for such things is a farce. Our own legal system is far from perfect but the NFL acting as a unbiased ruling party of judgment is a joke to me. If Washington or anyone is not prohibited by the law to walk the streets or partake in other functions, the NFL should not be a dictator adding its own implications. The only time I feel the NFL should suspend a player is when the player is doing something which would affect their ability to decide the outcome of a game, an example being PEDs. I just see the whole NFL suspension thing now as a complete fraud without any system or judgment which merits their actions that can be considered appropriate

And this is not even related to the fact that I could never stand Goodell lol

 

[Garthshort]

Jet, your point is well made. Unfortunately, DW also has an assault charge hanging over his head. But at least if the suspensions were lifted we'd know where DW stood in regard to his Domestic Violence charge. I'm assuming it's his first offense, but naturally don't know, and that he'll be suspended for six games. But we would then go into the Draft knowing where we stand.

 

[Mainstreet]

Right off the bat, I think what Ray Rice did was inexcusable and the man should be behind bars or some kind of jail sentence. I do not do drugs, but personally do not see the big problem with marijuana. My point is this, there is a judicial court system in this country and it should decide whether or not a player should play due to an offense. Meaning, if the man is not prohibited to do other aspects of life by the law, then he should be able to carry on with his job. I think the NFL acting as a secondary court system on offenses and implementing suspensions for such things is a farce. Our own legal system is far from perfect but the NFL acting as a unbiased ruling party of judgment is a joke to me. If Washington or anyone is not prohibited by the law to walk the streets or partake in other functions, the NFL should not be a dictator adding its own implications. The only time I feel the NFL should suspend a player is when the player is doing something which would affect their ability to decide the outcome of a game, an example being PEDs. I just see the whole NFL suspension thing now as a complete fraud without any system or judgment which merits their actions that can be considered appropriate

And this is not even related to the fact that I could never stand Goodell lol

I agree with you about letting the court system do their job for the most part. However, some contracts contain moral clauses that prohibit certain behavior. This is where it probably gets tricky with the NFL as I'm sure the players union have their finger in the pie. IMO, there needs to be some agreement regarding due process to which the players union and ownership can agree that is consistent in these matters.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Right off the bat, I think what Ray Rice did was inexcusable and the man should be behind bars or some kind of jail sentence. I do not do drugs, but personally do not see the big problem with marijuana. My point is this, there is a judicial court system in this country and it should decide whether or not a player should play due to an offense. Meaning, if the man is not prohibited to do other aspects of life by the law, then he should be able to carry on with his job. I think the NFL acting as a secondary court system on offenses and implementing suspensions for such things is a farce. Our own legal system is far from perfect but the NFL acting as a unbiased ruling party of judgment is a joke to me. If Washington or anyone is not prohibited by the law to walk the streets or partake in other functions, the NFL should not be a dictator adding its own implications. The only time I feel the NFL should suspend a player is when the player is doing something which would affect their ability to decide the outcome of a game, an example being PEDs. I just see the whole NFL suspension thing now as a complete fraud without any system or judgment which merits their actions that can be considered appropriate

And this is not even related to the fact that I could never stand Goodell lol

I like where you are going, however, their aren't many companies in the U.S. that would allow for the judicial system to enact the only punishments...Businesses in the U.S. and worldwide, frankly, enact their own set of rules and punishments everyday, aside from the legal system. Why should sports be treated differently?

 

[Jetstream Green]

I like where you are going, however, their aren't many companies in the U.S. that would allow for the judicial system to enact the only punishments...Businesses in the U.S. and worldwide, frankly, enact their own set of rules and punishments everyday, aside from the legal system. Why should sports be treated differently?

The reason I feel differently about sports unlike other businesses is that 1) We do not see the entertainment industry putting sanctions on musicians prohibiting them from releasing an LP if they got busted for pot and even for domestic violence (they quit making LPs when they get thrown in jail and do not have access to a normal life and a studio. I see Football as entertainment 2) Football is a violent contact sport. If they would have attempted enforcing these kind of moral (and it is moral policing because the court does the real prosecuting) policing back in the day, it would have gotten laughed at for a profession where you attempt to knock the crap out of another guy

 

[BW52]

The nfl is a exclusive group. It is not something the average joe can do.It takes special skills or size and strength and toughness that mean that around 2,000 people are skilled enough to perform .Being able to perform said tasks at this level also enables fiscal compensation well above what the average joe is paid.This select business can make some rules and expect players to respect and follow those rules.If you take their money you got to follow their rules.Simple as that.

 

[BW52]

I don`t see how any athlete can feel picked on.How often do pro athletes get favorable treatment from the courts;? Ray Lewis,Leonard Little,Ben Rothlisberger,Pacman Jones,Lawrence Taylor,etc;.......................OJ Simpson,.................Playing for big money also means you can pay out big money to keep your ass out of jail.

 

[Mulli]

 

[Mulli]

The reason I feel differently about sports unlike other businesses is that 1) We do not see the entertainment industry putting sanctions on musicians prohibiting them from releasing an LP if they got busted for pot and even for domestic violence (they quit making LPs when they get thrown in jail and do not have access to a normal life and a studio. I see Football as entertainment 2) Football is a violent contact sport. If they would have attempted enforcing these kind of moral (and it is moral policing because the court does the real prosecuting) policing back in the day, it would have gotten laughed at for a profession where you attempt to knock the crap out of another guy

Back in the day sucked. I am glad the owners/league isn't like that any more.

 

[GuernseyCard]

 

[GuernseyCard]

The reason I feel differently about sports unlike other businesses is that 1) We do not see the entertainment industry putting sanctions on musicians prohibiting them from releasing an LP if they got busted for pot and even for domestic violence (they quit making LPs when they get thrown in jail and do not have access to a normal life and a studio. I see Football as entertainment 2) Football is a violent contact sport. If they would have attempted enforcing these kind of moral (and it is moral policing because the court does the real prosecuting) policing back in the day, it would have gotten laughed at for a profession where you attempt to knock the crap out of another guy

That entertainer is not subject to collectively bargained agreement.

 

[Mulli]

The PR nightmare that would happen is probably by the NFL doesn't just let law enforcement handle this. Not well thought out.

 

[TJ]

If (big if) D-Wash's penalty for pot use is minimized, it would pave the way to get the DV suspension out of the way, whether it be 2 games, 4 games, or 6 games; however the league wishes to levy the punishment.

It likely still means he's not playing this season, but would help for next season knowing he can be on the field Week 1. Of course, all of this is predicated on the front office bringing him back.

The bottom line is the organization is best served monitoring his rehabilitation and hoping he comes out of this situation glowing and keeping him on the roster. He's by far our best linebacker on a linebacking corp that has been decimated by injuries, possible retirements, and underperformance.

In other words: he's not as expendable as some think.

 

[Mulli]

If (big if) D-Wash's penalty for pot use is minimized, it would pave the way to get the DV suspension out of the way, whether it be 2 games, 4 games, or 6 games; however the league wishes to levy the punishment.

It likely still means he's not playing this season, but would help for next season knowing he can be on the field Week 1. Of course, all of this is predicated on the front office bringing him back.

The bottom line is the organization is best served monitoring his rehabilitation and hoping he comes out of this situation glowing and keeping him on the roster. He's by far our best linebacker on a linebacking corp that has been dessimated by injuries, possible retirements, and underperformance.

In other words: he's not as expendable as some think.

Decimated.

:sundevil:

 

[LarryStalling]

The real culprit in this mess is the legal system. If the prosecution had done a good job, I can not fathom how judge and/or jury did not have exposure to viewing the security video. As so many times, the NFL appears to have waited for the legal system to impose guilty or innocent and the degree of the crime. With Rice having received such a light punishment for a misdemeanor (I think but not sure) it followed with what it perceived as a suitable punishment. When the public outrage surfaced following the release of the tape, it realized how wrong they were following the weak sentencing.

 

[TJ]

Decimated.

:sundevil:

Oy vey....

 

[Mulli]

Oy vey....

Just kidding, Broseph!

 

[Southpaw]

The NFL, MLB, et al were granted anti trust exemption long ago which has allowed them to operate in a bubble shield. Now with this latest event and the attention politicians i.e. Congress are paying to the situation the NFL owners have to be cognizant that incidents like these and the flim flam "punishments" will warrant a reduction in their "exemptions". Pro Sports may not be able to operate, much longer, with this different set of rules than the rest of society.

 

[BIGDADDY_REDBIRD]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...ns-suspension-could-be-reduced-to-eight-games

 

[Jetstream Green]

Can't we all here what we are saying to counter not giving suspensions, in essence we are all saying that professional athletes in football are for the most part moral disasters and if the NFL did nothing it would get out of control... so what morality are we kidding trying to enforce it, all the suspensions in themselves is a moral black eye for the league and proves a underlying lack of morality to begin with and changes nothing in my opinion because the suspensions are suppose to be to protect the face of the league and just confirms what they do not want to represent every time they give one

And let's not get started on the moral character of some of the owners. I can see Cowboy fans begging now for Jerry Jones to get suspended for his unmoral antics so their team would not be managed by a football idiot lol

 

[crisper57]

If I was accused of what RR did, I would be suspended pending the outcome of the trial. Why do NFL players get better?

 

[CardLogic]

Right off the bat, I think what Ray Rice did was inexcusable and the man should be behind bars or some kind of jail sentence. I do not do drugs, but personally do not see the big problem with marijuana. My point is this, there is a judicial court system in this country and it should decide whether or not a player should play due to an offense. Meaning, if the man is not prohibited to do other aspects of life by the law, then he should be able to carry on with his job. I think the NFL acting as a secondary court system on offenses and implementing suspensions for such things is a farce. Our own legal system is far from perfect but the NFL acting as a unbiased ruling party of judgment is a joke to me. If Washington or anyone is not prohibited by the law to walk the streets or partake in other functions, the NFL should not be a dictator adding its own implications. The only time I feel the NFL should suspend a player is when the player is doing something which would affect their ability to decide the outcome of a game, an example being PEDs. I just see the whole NFL suspension thing now as a complete fraud without any system or judgment which merits their actions that can be considered appropriate

And this is not even related to the fact that I could never stand Goodell lol

 

[ajcardfan]

The reason I feel differently about sports unlike other businesses is that 1) We do not see the entertainment industry putting sanctions on musicians prohibiting them from releasing an LP if they got busted for pot and even for domestic violence (they quit making LPs when they get thrown in jail and do not have access to a normal life and a studio. I see Football as entertainment 2) Football is a violent contact sport. If they would have attempted enforcing these kind of moral (and it is moral policing because the court does the real prosecuting) policing back in the day, it would have gotten laughed at for a profession where you attempt to knock the crap out of another guy

This a is a conscious decision by the NFL because:

1. They want to be the biggest entertainment business in America. Beloved by all... from the little kids to the sweet old grandmothers.

2. They need a continuous fresh flow of young talent into the game, and the earlier the kids play the better.


You don't appeal to mainstream America if they start to feel they are watching the Bloods v. the Aryan Brotherhood. If it gets too thuggish, the sport is going to become more marginal over time.

 

[Shaggy]

The NFL is a business just like any other out there. Most businesses will can you if you test positive for a drug including weed. Why is it wrong for the NFL to do it and OK for normal business to do it? I understand weed isn't as big of a deal as it was years ago, but you can't harp on the NFL for doing what any other normal business owners would do.

Sounds like you think NFL players should get a pass and normal employees shouldn't. They get suspended, normal employees get fired.

 

[desertdawg]

I like a smooth ride, when you rock a low rider you have to expect some roughness, unless you really shell out some serious coin. You wanna go front back, and side to side, your looking at 16 switches. If you want to keep the car "sound", you have to frame it before you claim it.

If we are talking "digging", give me the cheap Suzuki Samuri. I don't need a ton of truck to make it up a hill, I just need clearance, so I guess I gotta be high.