Pacman suspended for 2007; Henry suspended 8 games

[theogt]

What alot of you guys have to understand is that before now the commish hands were tied because of the old rules of discipline. Haynesworth got a just punishment and next time will probably get banned.

As for the pacman and henry suspensions? Good job commish! If you read the statements then you will see its not about their play but how they conduct themselves and represent the league.

But I want to raise one more question. what about the other repeat offenders who have not been suspended yet? Like Jeremy Stevens and dominic rhodes? Henry is not the only bengal with multiple arrests nor is pacman the only player that stays in trouble. I am anxious to see if he levies anymore suspensions to other players and what about the guys who have cases pending? Remember there were over 50 players to be arrested in the last year. Sure, henry and Pacman probably were the most covered in the media but they are not the only ones.

One last thing that I simply love about the suspension is the fact that these guys are not just suspended but they have to "earn" there way back into the league. Going to counseling and classes and basically going thru the whole shabang to just get back into the league. Now thats punishment! You are not getting paid but you still have to comply if you want back in. Thats is the most beautiful and gorgeous pimple of the face of the new policy. Again great job Goodel!

Pacman and Henry were suspended under the same guidelines that Haynesworth was suspended. If his hands were tied with Haynesworth, his hands were tied just the same with Pacman and Henry.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Pacman and Henry were suspended under the same guidelines that Haynesworth was suspended. If his hands were tied with Haynesworth, his hands were tied just the same with Pacman and Henry.

Not anymore, a new conduct policy has been instituted.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85253

 

[theogt]

Not anymore, a new conduct policy has been instituted.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85253

Their actions took place under the previous guidelines. I'm not sure contract law would allow that unless there was a specific provision providing that previous actions could be governed by the new contract. In that case, Pacman and Henry would have a pretty good case against the league for waiting to take action until the new contract was in place.

I didn't see anything in the thread that allowed it to be applied retroactively.

 

[superpunk]

I don't think any punishment can be done retroactively. I also think any punishment given will be on a case-by-case basis.

I know. It was tongue in cheek.

On field actions should be treated more harshly than off-field. But these guys are being disciplined for their body of work off the field...and they haven't been previously sanctioned by the NFL for anything.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but this is what smells of hypocrisy and charade to me.

And while you, as a fan, is not concerned by their off-field actions, these teams pay alot of money to these guys who are not handling themselves in a professional manner, nor are they displaying a certain amount of responsibility that is expected of an adult.

This I am not familiar with, I suppose the team cannot take action against these players? If they are really concerned, they should take care of it themselves.

Now, I do understand the players are sick of this. So if the pressure has been amped up from them to end this, I can understand it. It still is overkill, in comparison with things that matter more to me from where I'm sitting, but that is just how I personally feel about it.

Get rid of on the field thugs and cheaters before making some grandiose statement w/ regards to all these off the field "thugs". It's not that I don't support the action, I'm just not impressed by it. I "feel" that I know who this move was meant to appease, but that again is JMO, and it will remain that way.

 

[trickblue]

No, he hasn't. And this is a big problem with this whole ordeal. The suspensions are largely a reaction to fan opinion. Hell, Goodell basically admitted as much with the "ridicule" line. The problem is that a lot of fans don't even know what's going on. I see/hear the bolded statement quite a bit, and it's simply not true.

2005

On July 13, 2005 Jones was arrested on charges of assault and felony vandalism stemming from a nightclub altercation.

On September 5, 2005 Jones was a guest at the annual Nashville Sports Council Kickoff Luncheon. After a loud verbal tantrum when he was told to wait in line for his vehicle later that evening, Jones was counseled by the police. He also refused to pay for any valet services used that evening.

In October 2005, in a petition filed by the State of West Virginia, it was alleged that Jones had not made regular and sufficient contact with his probation officer and that he did not report his July arrest in Nashville in a timely fashion. The court ordered the probation extended for a period of 90 days, although the state requested it to be extended one year.

2006

On August 25, 2006, Jones was arrested in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for disorderly conduct and public intoxication after claiming that a woman stole his wallet. She claimed that she did not steal anything and Jones spat on her. Police officers said they ordered Jones to leave several times, but he refused, continuing to shout profanities at the woman. A judge granted him six months probation on the conditions that he stays out of further trouble and away from the nightclub.[3]

On October 26, 2006. Jones was cited for misdemeanor assault for allegedly spitting in the face of a female student from Tennessee State University during a private party at Club Mystic, a Nashville nightclub. He was suspended by the Titans for one game and was scheduled to be booked on the charge on November 17, 2006.

2007

During the 2007 NBA All-Star Game weekend in Las Vegas (Feb. 16-18, 2007), Jones is alleged to have been involved in an altercation with an exotic dancer at a local strip club. According to the club's co-owner, Jones approached the stage with a garbage bag filled with approximately $81,000[4] in one-dollar bills. Jones proceeded to throw the money into the air over the exotic dancers for a dramatic effect, an act known as "making it rain" or performing a "rain dance". Becoming enraged when one of the dancers began taking the money without his permission, Jones grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head on the stage. A security guard intervened and scuffled with members of Jones' entourage of half a dozen people, during which time Jones allegedly bit the guard on the lower leg. Jones then allegedly threatened the guard's life.[5] After the patrons of the club exited, the club owner says a person in Jones' entourage returned with a gun and fired into a crowd, hitting three people, including the security guard involved in the earlier skirmish. Although the guard was shot twice, one of the people hit, former professional wrestler Tommy Urbanski, was paralyzed from the waist down.[6] Jones maintains that he did not know the shooter, although the club's owner insists that Jones did.[7] On March 26, 2007 the Las Vegas Police recommended to the city's district attorney that Jones be charged with one count of felony coercion and also a misdemeanor count of battery and a misdemeanor count of threat to life. [8].

More trouble followed Jones after the altercation, when drug dealer Darryl Moore reported to the police after being busted during a deal about his phone conversations with Jones. "We gotta slow down, man. We gotta get him focused on football, man. He's focused on too much other ****," Moore is alleged to have said. Wiretapped phone conversations between Moore and his friends revealed Moore talking about how Jones bet on college games to earn quick money. "You know, I was talkin' to him the other day about smokin', and he was like 'man, if I didn't smoke I couldn't take all the stress that I'm dealing with right now,'" Moore said.[9]

Jones also is set to appear in a Fayetteville, Georgia court in 2007 for his February 2006 incident on subpoenas for felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges for an incident outside a home. The charges of marijuana in the same state were dismissed.[10] Jones has not been connected to the Moore drug arrests or convicted for the Vegas stripper incident. But Titans management have said they will talk to Jones about his future with the Titans, and that there is always a possibility of letting him go. The NFL has issued an investigation into the situation, which is looking into setting up stricter penalties for off-field conduct.[11]

 

[theogt]

2005

On July 13, 2005 Jones was arrested on charges of assault and felony vandalism stemming from a nightclub altercation.

On September 5, 2005 Jones was a guest at the annual Nashville Sports Council Kickoff Luncheon. After a loud verbal tantrum when he was told to wait in line for his vehicle later that evening, Jones was counseled by the police. He also refused to pay for any valet services used that evening.

In October 2005, in a petition filed by the State of West Virginia, it was alleged that Jones had not made regular and sufficient contact with his probation officer and that he did not report his July arrest in Nashville in a timely fashion. The court ordered the probation extended for a period of 90 days, although the state requested it to be extended one year.

2006

On August 25, 2006, Jones was arrested in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for disorderly conduct and public intoxication after claiming that a woman stole his wallet. She claimed that she did not steal anything and Jones spat on her. Police officers said they ordered Jones to leave several times, but he refused, continuing to shout profanities at the woman. A judge granted him six months probation on the conditions that he stays out of further trouble and away from the nightclub.[3]

On October 26, 2006. Jones was cited for misdemeanor assault for allegedly spitting in the face of a female student from Tennessee State University during a private party at Club Mystic, a Nashville nightclub. He was suspended by the Titans for one game and was scheduled to be booked on the charge on November 17, 2006.

2007

During the 2007 NBA All-Star Game weekend in Las Vegas (Feb. 16-18, 2007), Jones is alleged to have been involved in an altercation with an exotic dancer at a local strip club. According to the club's co-owner, Jones approached the stage with a garbage bag filled with approximately $81,000[4] in one-dollar bills. Jones proceeded to throw the money into the air over the exotic dancers for a dramatic effect, an act known as "making it rain" or performing a "rain dance". Becoming enraged when one of the dancers began taking the money without his permission, Jones grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head on the stage. A security guard intervened and scuffled with members of Jones' entourage of half a dozen people, during which time Jones allegedly bit the guard on the lower leg. Jones then allegedly threatened the guard's life.[5] After the patrons of the club exited, the club owner says a person in Jones' entourage returned with a gun and fired into a crowd, hitting three people, including the security guard involved in the earlier skirmish. Although the guard was shot twice, one of the people hit, former professional wrestler Tommy Urbanski, was paralyzed from the waist down.[6] Jones maintains that he did not know the shooter, although the club's owner insists that Jones did.[7] On March 26, 2007 the Las Vegas Police recommended to the city's district attorney that Jones be charged with one count of felony coercion and also a misdemeanor count of battery and a misdemeanor count of threat to life. [8].

More trouble followed Jones after the altercation, when drug dealer Darryl Moore reported to the police after being busted during a deal about his phone conversations with Jones. "We gotta slow down, man. We gotta get him focused on football, man. He's focused on too much other ****," Moore is alleged to have said. Wiretapped phone conversations between Moore and his friends revealed Moore talking about how Jones bet on college games to earn quick money. "You know, I was talkin' to him the other day about smokin', and he was like 'man, if I didn't smoke I couldn't take all the stress that I'm dealing with right now,'" Moore said.[9]

Jones also is set to appear in a Fayetteville, Georgia court in 2007 for his February 2006 incident on subpoenas for felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges for an incident outside a home. The charges of marijuana in the same state were dismissed.[10] Jones has not been connected to the Moore drug arrests or convicted for the Vegas stripper incident. But Titans management have said they will talk to Jones about his future with the Titans, and that there is always a possibility of letting him go. The NFL has issued an investigation into the situation, which is looking into setting up stricter penalties for off-field conduct.[11]

How many times does this post say he was arrested? Just skimming it I counted 2. When were the other 8 times?

 

[sacase]

Personally I think the NFL is settin themselvs up for a huge labor suit by these two guys. First of all some of the incidents are prior to the new rules going into effect. Second, If you are arrested does that merit a 8 game suspension? What constitutes what punishment? When you are taking millions of dollars from someone, I think they are going to fight you as far as they can take it. I am sure the NFL does not want to end up in federal court and have their collective bargining agreement challenged. The last thing you want is to have the Federal Government step in and tell you how to do things. I personally feel the punishment is excessive, especially considering prior precident.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

"We just need some heart. Excuse my French, but we need some thugs to go out there and get it. We have too many nice guys." - Adam "Pac-Man" Jones

 

[jay cee]

I'm not giddy about the move, but Goodell was clearly out to make an example of these two, so he made it strong.

I'm just not following the new commish's logic.

Haynesworth assaults a player on national television, and gets a couple game suspension. These guys did something out of sight, have not been convicted of much of anything that I recall, and they're suspended longer.

It's all about handling the public's perception I guess. People are tired of "thugs"

great point SP.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

This guy should have been banned from the NFL for life. Also, he should be behind bars with the rest of the animals.

 

[sacase]

This guy should have been banned from the NFL for life. Also, he should be behind bars with the rest of the animals.

So due process means nothing to you?

 

[jay cee]

Precisely. I don't watch the NFL because I give a darn about what these guys do on their own time, and I'm not gonna get a banana in my butt just because they're getting arrested. I understand they have to maintain some decorum, and keep these guys in line, but this is too far, IMO.

I do however watch to see the product on the field. I have never been so completely disgusted as when I saw what Haynesworth did, and he's a guy who had a history of this behavior. But week 10, there he was playing on the field again.

Merriman violates all principles of fair sport, and 4 games later, there he is, dancing like a ******.

Give me a break with this dance.

Why not a 1 year suspension for steroid abuse and drug abuse also, those activities must be outside of the code of conduct huh?

 

[jay cee]

Not anymore, a new conduct policy has been instituted.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85253

If that's a new conduct policy, then doesn't that mean he is punishing these guys retroactively?

Their offenses happened before the new policy right?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Pac Man and Henry are just typical examples of the program Rich Rodriquez is running at WVU.

Randy Moss ring a bell? Oops...what was that.:laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

If that's a new conduct policy, then doesn't that mean he is punishing these guys retroactively?

Their offenses happened before the new policy right?

Of course it's retroactive and in a couple of cases before due process of law has been established. These are the two main reasons upon which their lawyers will fight this.

 

[Big Dakota]

They are being punished on the OLD policy. I'm sure they will appeal but in the end they won't get anywhere because the PLAYERS themselves want this.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

So due process means nothing to you?

I just think the guy is a scum bag and that money and NFL fame have protected him from prison. But I’d rather not get into politics.

 

[the big 88]

Can't say I'm surprised, I thought jones would be booted out of the nfl

 

[peplaw06]

I was thinking, looking at the big picture...

These guys have gotten away with this type of stuff probably since before their high school days. It's pretty naive of the NFL to think that their new "low tolerance" policy is going to change anything without the NCAA or high school ranks nipping this type of behavior in the bud before it becomes a sense of entitlement for these players.

How many guys in the NCAA have been arrested for drug charges, and suspended by one game by their teams, only to return the next week and play. The NCAA is more concerned with booster and recruiting violations than they are with arrests and violent behavior. High schools... I know there's no central governing body for high schools nationwide, but they are for the most part out of control.

But until these guys are taught respect for the law from the beginning, to think they will all of a sudden learn it when they get into the NFL is a little Pollyannish.

 

[theogt]

Of course it's retroactive and in a couple of cases before due process of law has been established. These are the two main reasons upon which their lawyers will fight this.

A contract cannot be applied retroactively, unless agreed upon. Due process has nothing to do with any of this. Due process is a restriction against the government. You're misusing the term, just like Fuzzy misused the Habeas Corpus term.