Since not everyone knows all the players ever suspended by Roger Goodell, I thought I would post them here. Some people said he had to suspend Roethlisberger or it would be racism. Hmmmm. Let's look at the data first.
Roethlisberger 4-6 games Never charged with a crime
Vick went to prison for 21 months and only served a 2 game suspension as he was re-instated for the third game of the season after being released.
Chris Henry 8 games - arrested 4 times in 3 states including drug charges and one felony gun possession.
Marshawn Lynch 3 games for pleading guilty to misdemeanor gun possession shortly after being nabbed for a hit-n-run.
Tank Johnson 8 games for probation violation of a weapons charge
Pac-Man Jones 16 and 4 games Brawl and shootings at strip bar and fight with body guard
Donte Stallworth 16 games for DUI Manslaughter
Larry Johnson 1 game for hocking loogey on female in a club
Brandon Marshall 3 games for DUI and arrest for domestic violence
Bryant McKinnie 4 games for aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest
Fabian Washington 1 game for domestic battery
Fred Evans 2 games after while on probation already, battery of a POLICE OFFICER
Jerramy Stevens 1 game for extreme DUI 3x limit
Odell Thurman 4 and 16 and then some for various substance abuse and assault charges.
I don't know about you, but I think the suspension was a bit much and I am planning on doing one last post about it. The guy who went to prison for 21 months got reinstated after missing 2 games when he got out. Also notice Ben is the only person suspended without being charged of anything. How it would have been racist to only give him 2 games is beyond me. I think 2 games would have been more in line when you read these other suspensions. Get yourself on probation and then physically assault a police officer gets you two weeks. Nice. Now, the people all fired up about Ben (and I am mad myself, trust me, but I want fairness) got their suspension. I would now like every one of them to comment on the fairness of 4-6 games based on the list above.
Donte Stallworth got drunk and killed somebody behind the wheel of a car and he got 16 games. Ben wasn't even charged with a crime and got 25-38% of that. Let's be honest, if he jumped out of the bushes with a hood on at night and absolutely raped somebody - I'm still not convinced the punishment for that should be 38% of killing somebody. The fact that no charges were brought and they were both hammered and we don't know for sure WHAT happened leads me to believe as a logical person that it did not equal 38% of killing somebody.
I would barely have batted an eye had it been 2 games. If it's 4, OK, Roger, you made your statement. If it's 6, I think it's unjust compared to the previous suspensions. In fact, he may have been a victim of being overpunished just so it didn't seem like racism since the word was brought into the discussion before Roger ruled.
First it was a huge debate over whether he would even be suspended or should he be suspended. I don't hear a lot of people saying this was too little or too much. I hope the intent was to always back it down to 4 but to come strong with the potential 6 out of the gate.
5 comments:
It's quite simple...they made an example out of Ben. If it would've been 2 games there would be a public outcry of 'racism' and the dear idiot Commisioner would have to answer those allegations.
I was expecting 4 games which I hope it turns out to be. Fair? Nope, not for a guy that was not charged with a crime in his life - not even a parking ticket. What I find most upsetting about this incident is that Ben never once defended himself and that hurt the way the public viewed the allegation. His silence was the same as admitting his guilt. If Ben is smart he will take the suspension like a man, go for evaluation, and keep his mouth shut until it is over.
I'll give Goodell some rope here. Probably enough to hang himself with. But as they say in stock investing "past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance."
So if this is the new standard then killing dogs = death by lethal injection. Killing a man while drunk = never play in the NFL again. Drug and gun violations = 16 games. Allegedly pulling your dick out and shaking it at a girl too drunk to do anything with it = 6 games.
Joe Flacco allegedly raped my neighbor's cat (trying to get some pussy I suppose). Goodell is looking at a 3 game suspension with possible reduction to 1 game if the Unibrow films a public service announcement for the Humane Society. The cat's not even walking funny so perhaps it's a false accusation.
Part of your list of past suspensions doesn't really apply, since the NFL's new (and tougher) personal conduct policy only went into effect in April 2007. Only Vick, Tank Johnson, and Pacman were under its reach.
It's very vague and gives the Commish a lot of latitude. It's kind of the like the Supreme Court's view of pornography: "I'll know it when I see it."
It basically says, "if you want to make millions playing, you'll play by our rule. And we'll make up the rules as they apply."
Whadday gonna do?
Although I have to say, 31 other starting QBs have been able to fly under its radar.
carpet...not according to SI.com
chris Henry - first 8 games of 2007
marshawn lynch - first 3 games of 2009
donte stallworth - entire 2009 season
larry johnson - 1 game 2008
McKinnie - 4 games in 2008
Washington - 2008
Evans - 2007
Stevens - 2007
Thurman - all of 2007, part of 2008
brandon marshall - first 3 games of 2008
6 games compared to THAT list for THOSE transgressions is pretty silly.
Probably over the top but I am happy with it because I think it will be reduced and it should teach Benny a big big lesson.
I dont think they had any intention of trading him but wanted the rumors out there to scare the crap out of him. I hope it worked.
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