Pacman Jones suspended for entire season

[Huckleberry]

on NFL.com

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. I thought he'd get 4, maybe 8 games at the most. Good for the new commish (even though I doubt it will stand.)

[gstelmack]

And Chris Henry for 8 games.

[gottimd]

So that gives him more free time on his hands....wonderful. What is the over/under on his next offense? It was probably 1 month before suspension, but just got lowered to 2 weeks now.

[Ksyrup]

They went excessive, knowing they'd lose the appeal, but win in the court of public opinion.

[albionmoonlight]

Between his upcoming legal fees, the loss of an anticipated year's salary, and my sneaking suspicion that he has already rained away his signing bonus, I wonder if Pac Man might be bumping into some financial trouble sooner rather than later.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

... rained away his signing bonus.

Gold.

[Leonidas]

NFL administrators finally grew some balls. Maybe Goodall is going to be a great commish.

[ISiddiqui]

Couldn't have happened to a better person .

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I wonder if Pac Man might be bumping into some financial trouble sooner rather than later.

and thus the segue into committing felonies such as murder?

[stevew]

Glad to see that Goddell has some balls. Can't possibly see this standing, but even if it gets reduced to 4 games that is a steep punishment. I just wish Jones made more in actual salary, so it would be a harsher penalty. I guess the Titans can go after a pro-rated portion of his signing bonus if they want too, also.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

If they want too? I think it's a foregone conclusion they will go after the signing bonus.

[scooper]

Mike Brown will try to suck out Chris Henry's soul with a straw to repay his signing bonus.

[JPhillips]

Goodell has also made it clear that another offense will lead to a lifetime ban,

[WVUFAN]

Given that Jones has never been convicted of any crime, AND that the rule that Goodall used to suspend them was passed AFTER his "incidents", I don't see this sticking.

[scooper]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Given that Jones has never been convicted of any crime, AND that the rule that Goodall used to suspend them was passed AFTER his "incidents", I don't see this sticking.

The NFL is not the court of law and Goodall is not handing down jail sentences. They don't need the proof that a prosecutor needs. This won't stick as it is written, but it will still be substantial.

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Given that Jones has never been convicted of any crime, AND that the rule that Goodall used to suspend them was passed AFTER his "incidents", I don't see this sticking.

WTF? He's been involved in 10 incidents where he's been interviewed by the police. Convicted or not, malfeasance seems to follow this guy wherever he goes. Good riddance.

[Kodos]

I applaud the new commissioner for taking a harder stance against this kind of crap.

[stevew]

This must be what happens when the new commish doesn't share a hot tub with the players union president.

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

WTF? He's been involved in 10 incidents where he's been interviewed by the police. Convicted or not, malfeasance seems to follow this guy wherever he goes. Good riddance.

He is a stand up guy, a role model, and just a classic example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time....again......and again....and again.....and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......and again.......

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

WTF? He's been involved in 10 incidents where he's been interviewed by the police. Convicted or not, malfeasance seems to follow this guy wherever he goes. Good riddance.

Yes. It's all about the perception given to his product (the NFL and it's players), regardless of the accuracy in the charges (or lack there of).

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by scooper

The NFL is not the court of law and Goodall is not handing down jail sentences. They don't need the proof that a prosecutor needs. This won't stick as it is written, but it will still be substantial.

If it were me, at my work, conviction or not, I'd be getting a mighty bad performance report, which would certainly end my career regardless of how well I performed.

[Crapshoot]

Innocent until proven guility, except when the public doesn't give a shit. I don't think PacMan's a particularly great human being and I recognize the NFL's right to suspend him (as per their negotiated rules), but dear god, people relishing the idea of him losing some salary smack of nothing more than envy.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

WTF? He's been involved in 10 incidents where he's been interviewed by the police. Convicted or not, malfeasance seems to follow this guy wherever he goes. Good riddance.

So being interviewed by the police is now a finable/suspendable offense?

Goodall better be suspending Ray Lewis then. He was arrested for murder, y'know. After all, as Scooper says, they don't need the proof that a prosecutor needs ... he just needs to be interviewed by the police.

So if Jones is suspended for a season for just being interviewed by the police (never actually, y'know, CHARGED with a crime or anything), by god Goodall better throw the book at Lewis.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

So being interviewed by the police is now a finable/suspendable offense?

Goodall better be suspending Ray Lewis then. He was arrested for murder, y'know. After all, as Scooper says, they don't need the proof that a prosecutor needs ... he just needs to be interviewed by the police.

So if Jones is suspended for a season for just being interviewed by the police (never actually, y'know, CHARGED with a crime or anything), by god Goodall better throw the book at Lewis.

Wow.. come on now, you're better at debate than this..

This happened Lewis YEARS ago where the Jones incident was THIS off-season.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

So being interviewed by the police is now a finable/suspendable offense?

Goodall better be suspending Ray Lewis then. He was arrested for murder, y'know. After all, as Scooper says, they don't need the proof that a prosecutor needs ... he just needs to be interviewed by the police.

So if Jones is suspended for a season for just being interviewed by the police (never actually, y'know, CHARGED with a crime or anything), by god Goodall better throw the book at Lewis.

The thing that really got the league's attention in Jones' case was 2 arrests he had last offseason that he never reported to the league or the team, which is against NFL rules.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Wow.. come on now, you're better at debate than this..

This happened Lewis YEARS ago where the Jones incident was THIS off-season.

Doesn't matter. If the idea is that negative actions, even if the actions are not illegal, reflect poorly on the NFL, then Lewis should be held accountable. When the incidents occured doesn't have anything to do with it. Some of the "offenses" they are suspending Jones for occured in his rookie season.

If you're talking recent events, Jones has ONE incident that happened recently. ONE. Otherwise we're talking things that occured before a good bit of time ago.

So, obviously the time in which the "incidents" occured has really no bearing on the punishment. It lends me to ask ... What is worse ... 6 incidents where the person was never even charged with a crime, much less went to trial, or a single incident where a person was charged with MURDER in the first degree and pleaded down? Lewis was convicted. Jones has never even been charged with a single crime.

Add to the fact that the ruling that Jones is being suspended for was passed AFTER JONES' INCIDENT OCCURED.

I don't know if Jones is a good guy or not. I know, however, that being suspended for an entire season for something that isn't illegal to begin with is just wrong.

[st.cronin]

The things Pacman is alleged to have done are far worse than what Ray Lewis is alleged to have done. Afaik, Ray Lewis was basically accused of covering up for somebody who was suspected of being connected to somebody who was suspected to have shot somebody. Or something like that.

[lordscarlet]

I miss Playmakers.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Atocep

The thing that really got the league's attention in Jones' case was 2 arrests he had last offseason that he never reported to the league or the team, which is against NFL rules.

dola --

That's an excuse -- Goodall is using Jones as an example, and it should not fly. If this was a pressing issue, why wasn't he suspended for those incidents LAST YEAR, when they occured?

This sort of nonsense will come back and bite Goodall and the NFL when it comes time to renegotiate with the Player's Union.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

The things Pacman is alleged to have done are far worse than what Ray Lewis is alleged to have done. Afaik, Ray Lewis was basically accused of covering up for somebody who was suspected of being connected to somebody who was suspected to have shot somebody. Or something like that.

Ack?

Lewis was charged with First Degree Murder. You really can't get much worse than that. He pleaded down and was convicted with Obstruction of Justice.

Both of which are much worse than ... no crime at all, which is what Jones has been convicted of.

EDIT: The NFL did not punish Lewis AT ALL for what happened. He did not receive a fine, nor a suspension of ANY KIND.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

dola --

That's an excuse -- Goodall is using Jones as an example, and it should not fly. If this was a pressing issue, why wasn't he suspended for those incidents LAST YEAR, when they occured?

This sort of nonsense will come back and bite Goodall and the NFL when it comes time to renegotiate with the Player's Union.

1.) the league didn't find out about the arrests until the end of this past season.

2.) This is a new commish setting new policy. You can't expect him to go back and retroactively suspend every player in the league that now falls under whatever his new policy is.

3.) The players union is 100% behind the suspensions. The Goodall founded a group that gives input on players conduct last week. If you think he did this without feedback from players, coaches, the Gene Upshaw, ect. You're kidding yourself. This is something a lot people wanted to see happen.

[Kodos]

FWIW, I was in favor of banning Lewis for life.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Atocep

1.) the league didn't find out about the arrests until the end of this past season.

That's not true. They found out about them in the early part of LAST season.

2.) This is a new commish setting new policy. You can't expect him to go back and retroactively suspend every player in the league that now falls under whatever his new policy is.

They're suspending Jones retroactively. Why not others?

3.) The players union is 100% behind the suspensions. The Goodall founded a group that gives input on players conduct last week. If you think he did this without feedback from players, coaches, the Gene Upshaw, ect. You're kidding yourself. This is something a lot people wanted to see happen.

We'll see about that.

[wade moore]

What I'm saying is - if Lewis does something again, while Gooddall is in charge, then he should get the same treatment as Jones. But Gooddall (unless I'm missing something) is not suspending Jones FOR those other incidents, but that those are weighing into the weight of the punishment.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

We'll see about that.

Have you not been following this at all? There's interview after interview with players, Gene Upshaw, coaches, ect. Not a single person interviewed has said a negative thing about coming down hard on Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, or Pacman.

Goodall has had multiple meetings with Gene Upshaw and was at the Owner's meetings to get input on this subject.

Pacman himself was quoted a couple days ago as saying he expected to be suspended for quite a while.

Do you seriously think he'd make a statement like this as a brand new commish without the players union and owners backing?

[Jas_lov]

So what exactly do you propose instead? Going back and suspending every player for every bad act they've committed during their career? Or just let Pac Man Jones and Chris Henry go without penalties, and the arrests and convictions keep on happening because there are no harsh penalties. The new commisioner is setting an example and I think making steps to clean up the game and people are standing up for Pac Man Jones because he hasn't officially been arrested?

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

So what exactly do you propose instead? Going back and suspending every player for every bad act they've committed during their career?

If you're gonna do that to two players, then do it to ALL players.

Or just let Pac Man Jones and Chris Henry go without penalties, and the arrests and convictions keep on happening because there are no harsh penalties.

Sigh. Jones has never been even officially charged with a single crime, much less convicted.

What I'm saying is that if you're going to suspend a player under a new rule set up after the player commits the incident, then you do the same to ALL the other players. If not, then warn Jones of the new rules, and if he's the punk y'all evidently think he is, then he'll screw up again, and that's when you throw the book at him.

But don't suspend him for incidents that occur under a new rule, when he wouldn't have been suspeded for them when they were committed. You're punishing him for "illegal" (I use that word lightly because, again, he's never been charged with a crime) activities that weren't "illegal" when they occured.

So, long story short, YES, if you're gonna suspend Jones for this, then suspend Lewis as well. After all, he was never punished for what he did to begin with.

And suspend Jamal Lewis while you're at it. He was convicted of a crime as well.

The new commisioner is setting an example and I think making steps to clean up the game and people are standing up for Pac Man Jones because he hasn't officially been arrested?

I'm all in favor of suspending players when they are convicted of crimes. If they're arrested, no, because an arrest is not indiciative of guilt. My support of Jones is based on the idea that he shouldn't be punished for an infringement of the rules when the rule wasn't created. In "real life" (ie, actual law), Article I, Sections 9-10 would prohibit this from happening.

[Atocep]

WVUFAN, I have no idea what you're looking for from the NFL. Goodall takes his time, gets info, gets feedback, plans policy, gets a group of 6 players to be the player conduct commitee, and you'd rather see him suspend players on a whim as soon as he hears about a player getting arrested.

If you want to blame anyone, blame previous commishes that didn't have anything on player conduct in place. The sports world has been running around trying to bust steroid users when guys like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry run around getting multiple arrests. Which one really should be getting the attention and warrants suspension?

[Jas_lov]

But neither of them is suspended under the new rule. They are both suspended under the old policy and have the right to appeal, but with the player's union supporting the commissioner it's probably useless. The new rule was announced today as well, but the suspensions are for conduct detrimental to the league under the old policy.

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

That's not true. They found out about them in the early part of LAST season.



They're suspending Jones retroactively. Why not others?



We'll see about that.

The suspension is a good move by the league.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

What I'm saying is that if you're going to suspend a player under a new rule set up after the player commits the incident, then you do the same to ALL the other players.

They're just going after the latest "poster children" to send a message. Bad luck for Pac Man and Chris Henry that they've been the ones in the news the past year. If this was announced during the 2006 or 2008 offseasons it would have likely been someone else to bear the brunt of the punishment since those two may not have been the ones in the public eye for this type of behavior.



BTW - You've got to know that I'm holding back the obvious comment regarding these two out of respect for your opinion.

[Toddzilla]

Um, WVUFAN, where did PacMan go to school, anyway?

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by VPI97

BTW - You've got to know that I'm holding back the obvious comment regarding these two out of respect for your opinion.

Thank you.

Note I haven't said a thing about Chris Henry. He's been convicted with a crime, and should get punishment. But Jones got worse and has done less.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

Um, WVUFAN, where did PacMan go to school, anyway?

Lemme look.

Whoa. They're both from WVU. I didn't know that.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Thank you.

Note I haven't said a thing about Chris Henry. He's been convicted with a crime, and should get punishment. But Jones got worse and has done less.

I won't deny the league is using them as an example, but I'll guarantee he has Gene Upshaw's support or he wouldn't have made these suspension so severe.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Thank you.

Note I haven't said a thing about Chris Henry. He's been convicted with a crime, and should get punishment. But Jones got worse and has done less.

Agreed. Henry should have gotten at least a year and a half.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Atocep

If you want to blame anyone, blame previous commishes that didn't have anything on player conduct in place. The sports world has been running around trying to bust steroid users when guys like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry run around getting multiple arrests. Which one really should be getting the attention and warrants suspension?

Are you asking me which warrants a suspension, Jones or steriod users? Steriod Users.

Mostly because they're illegal. And, as I've said now about a hundred times both here at work and on the board, Jones hasn't done a single illegal thing yet.

So, yeah, steriod users.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Have you not been following this at all? There's interview after interview with players, Gene Upshaw, coaches, ect. Not a single person interviewed has said a negative thing about coming down hard on Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, or Pacman.

A) What did they do to Tank Johnson? Let him play in the Super Bowl after getting a special court order from a (second) judge (that was a Bears fan) that let him leave the state of Illinois?

B) IIRC, Ray Lewis, while not suspended, did get a $250k fine.

C) Did Pac-Man and Henry have any other roomates down there at WVU we should be looking out for?

[Northwood_DK]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

And, as I've said now about a hundred times both here at work and on the board, Jones hasn't done a single illegal thing yet.

I don’t think he have to do anything illegal to break the leagues current Personal Conduct Policy (http://www.nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/ConductPolicy.aspx).