I cant catch up with this thread... not enough time... But an interesting debate nonetheless. Initially I thought it was that he had to be under contract, but then I got to thinking... These long suspensions oftentimes lead to a team cutting a guy because he's dead weight, and they don't want to pay him if he can't be of use.
Take Vick for instance. Let's say he gets cut by the Falcons in the offseason. He's in prison and serving his "indefinite suspension." After he gets out, Goodell sets his suspension at an additional year.
If a team wants to give him a shot, do they have to sign him immediately and pay him, though he would be dead weight for a year before he can play?? Like the issue is with Tank, why would you want to sign a guy and pay him if he can't play for you? So it leads you to a scenario where a long suspension is essentially a life-long ban for these guys if they had to be under contract to serve their suspension.
I don't think that's very fair... just my $.02.