Pacman - 1 year suspension?

[BUSTKUNTLAWL]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-owners032207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Two sources confirmed a report by Sports Illustrated that Goodell is also expected to ban Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for a minimum of one year. Even more, Goodell and the league are expected to get the full support of the NFL Players Association, making it difficult for individual players such as Jones to stop such penalties short of a lengthy court battle.

[THIZZorDIE]

1 year is too long for not having been convicted of anything. I mean, yes Pac-man's antics are more than old, and need to come to an end. 1 year is like a serious steriod suspension though, not misconduct. He has really upped his game of late as well. Too bad if its true. I think it makes more sense to put him in a no more chances, no slack, shape up or ship out situation, and let him sit in it. Sitting a year will give him more time to go do these crazy things anyway-

[P-L]

Wow. That's a serious punishment. Maybe they're trying to make an example out of him.

[TitleTown088]

Good to hear. They really need to make an example of him to keep his type of additude and behavior out of the league.

[TheChampIsHere]

Well that is a serious suspension and there is good and bad that come with it. On the negative side, he is being made an example of and its too bad he wont be on the field for a year especially considering he hasnt been convicted of anything. On the plus side, they are making an example of him and hopefully it will help keep players all around the league out of trouble if the NFL shows theyre not playing. Its true I am getting VERY tired of hearing headlines about players with DUI and possession and assault and whatnot. Its cool if you wanna drink or party or whatever and in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with smokin a little reefer, but players need to think about when and where they do what the do. If youre gonna go party, dont make a spectacle of yourself, understand that youre a target, have a ride ready for you if you want to drink, dont keep the weed on you. You got too much at stake to be taking chances like that.

[Titans10]

I agree thizz, one year is pretty harsh for not being convicted of anything

8 games is what im expecting...haynesworth got 5 games for stomping a players face twice on camera. why should pac get more than that when he has never beeen convicted of of a crime, yeah he is an idiot, but he has never actually been guilty of anything...yet

[JoeMontainya]

this guy makes the NFL look bad, he should be kicked out of the league for good. i dont want my kids hearing about a guy like this when they want to learn about sports.

[TheChampIsHere]

I agree thizz, one year is pretty harsh for not being convicted of anything

8 games is what im expecting...haynesworth got 5 games for stomping a players face twice on camera. why should pac get more than that when he has never beeen convicted of of a crime, yeah he is an idiot, but he has never actually been guilty of anything...yet

yeah, what Haynesworth did is by far worse than anything Pac-Man as done, especially as it concerns the NFL.

this guy makes the NFL look bad, he should be kicked out of the league for good. i dont want my kids hearing about a guy like this when they want to learn about sports.

that is just ridiculous. we cant kick people out of the league because theyre not a role model. besides, the fact that we talk about football and people immediately talk about Pac-Man is the medias fault, theres no way this kind of news should get this much publicity.

[Caddy]

He might have made some poor choices in the past, but is a 1 year suspension really what he deserves?

[Merlin]

He might have made some poor choices in the past, but is a 1 year suspension really what he deserves?IMO, yes!
So what if he hasn't been convicted?

What kind of deterent would Goodell and the NPA be sending out, "you can act like an idiot/thug, as long as you don't get caught or convicted", not much of an example for young players coming into the lge?

Someone needs to be made an example off, why not Pacman?

My only concern is that the "NFL" needs to be consistent with the punishment, whats the name of that young idiot WR from the Bengals? slap him with the "big stick" at the same time.

[London]

So is Tank Johnson just gonna be given a bye?

This is a joke. Shows the NFL has its favorites..

[OhioState]

he deserves it. he has done too much to taint the image of the nfl as a whole

[London]

he deserves it. he has done too much to taint the image of the nfl as a whole

And Tank Johnson, Jamal Lewis (both convicted and one currently in jail) haven't tainted the NFL's image at all.....

Funny how the commish will choose a team based in Tennesse to do something like this. He will leave the Chicago team alone......I wonder which has the bigger market...hmm...
.

[princefielder28]

Like Greg Anthony said on Cold Pizza he's been questioned for alot of different instances but what has he been convicted of???? The NFL should wait until he faces legal consequences before they dish out their penalty.

[The Unseen]

Like Greg Anthony said on Cold Pizza he's been questioned for alot of different instances but what has he been convicted of???? The NFL should wait until he faces legal consequences before they dish out their penalty.

Agreed.

I'd give him something on the lines of 8-10 if he gets convicted of anything.

[DeMonikk1]

Like Greg Anthony said on Cold Pizza he's been questioned for alot of different instances but what has he been convicted of???? The NFL should wait until he faces legal consequences before they dish out their penalty.

Sooo, basically, wait until he's the one to actually pull the trigger and kill someone in stead of telling someone else to. Excellent logic. I agree it's harsh but I also think, it's about damn time. Too many of these idiots get this gift of talent and know that even if they screw up, someone will keep giving them chances. Remember Lawrence Phillips??
But I think the league needs to step up and not only apply this to Pacman, but Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Odell Thurman and whoever else keeps spitting in the face of the law us regular people have to live by. White, black doesn't matter, get em out!

[princefielder28]

Sooo, basically, wait until he's the one to actually pull the trigger and kill someone in stead of telling someone else to. Excellent logic. I agree it's harsh but I also think, it's about damn time. Too many of these idiots get this gift of talent and know that even if they screw up, someone will keep giving them chances. Remember Lawrence Phillips??
But I think the league needs to step up and not only apply this to Pacman, but Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Odell Thurman and whoever else keeps spitting in the face of the law us regular people have to live by. White, black doesn't matter, get em out!

The others you mentioned were all convicted of something or there was the evidence to take them down right away. But with the way our legal system works you are innocent until proven guilty and Pac Man should get atleast that benefit.

[DeMonikk1]

The others you mentioned were all convicted of something or there was the evidence to take them down right away. But with the way our legal system works you are innocent until proven guilty and Pac Man should get atleast that benefit.

I understand where you are coming from, but too many times, he HAS gotten the benefit already. What about is situations right after the draft? And leading up to the draft? He knows that because he is talented, he can get away with whatever he wants. And I am not trying to attack you in anyway about your opinion, I just get pissed reading about how these guys have a talent and opportunity I would kill for, and they surround themselves with idiots and such and repeatedly put themselves in bad spots because they know, hey, I'm rich, i'm talented, SOMEONE will sign me again anyway.

[Jimmy]

good to hear, maybe then pacman will realize "damn, this is my job, and now im unemployed for a year, i need to get my **** together."

[princefielder28]

I understand where you are coming from, but too many times, he HAS gotten the benefit already. What about is situations right after the draft? And leading up to the draft? He knows that because he is talented, he can get away with whatever he wants. And I am not trying to attack you in anyway about your opinion, I just get pissed reading about how these guys have a talent and opportunity I would kill for, and they surround themselves with idiots and such and repeatedly put themselves in bad spots because they know, hey, I'm rich, i'm talented, SOMEONE will sign me again anyway.

I respect your view and completely get what you mean.

[TheChampIsHere]

Sooo, basically, wait until he's the one to actually pull the trigger and kill someone in stead of telling someone else to. Excellent logic. I agree it's harsh but I also think, it's about damn time. Too many of these idiots get this gift of talent and know that even if they screw up, someone will keep giving them chances. Remember Lawrence Phillips??
But I think the league needs to step up and not only apply this to Pacman, but Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Odell Thurman and whoever else keeps spitting in the face of the law us regular people have to live by. White, black doesn't matter, get em out!

where does this pull the trigger nonsense come from? If Pac-Man kills someone he's gonna have much bigger problems than the NFL. We have a judicial system for a reason that doesnt allow for people to just get charged with crimes without due course. They dont charge you with a crime for being in a place where a crime occurs. The same thing goes for the NFL. they cant just go suspending players unless they have done their due course and found out if the player actually broke any rules. And honestly, when it comes to the Chris Henrys and Odell Thurmans of the world who smoke weed and buy alcohol for minors and other nonsense like that, you are taking that stuff way too seriously. Honestly, who gives a flying ----- about that kind of stuff. And theyre not getting off b/c theyre athletes, theyre getting off b/c theyre minor crimes, our courts dont usually prosecute people who get caught with a bag of weed on them, they cut em a deal and that goes for everyone. We are seeing Jamal Lewis and Tank Johnson go to jail because their crimes constituted jail time by the letter of the law. I dont know what all this special treatment is all about. Its just the fact that they have so much going for them with them being pro athletes that the fines and classes dont seem like much consequence because their lives are great. I think people like you seem to want athletes to get prosecuted more severely than regular people.

[DeMonikk1]

where does this pull the trigger nonsense come from? If Pac-Man kills someone he's gonna have much bigger problems than the NFL. We have a judicial system for a reason that doesnt allow for people to just get charged with crimes without due course. They dont charge you with a crime for being in a place where a crime occurs. The same thing goes for the NFL. they cant just go suspending players unless they have done their due course and found out if the player actually broke any rules. And honestly, when it comes to the Chris Henrys and Odell Thurmans of the world who smoke weed and buy alcohol for minors and other nonsense like that, you are taking that stuff way too seriously. Honestly, who gives a flying ----- about that kind of stuff. And theyre not getting off b/c theyre athletes, theyre getting off b/c theyre minor crimes, our courts dont usually prosecute people who get caught with a bag of weed on them, they cut em a deal and that goes for everyone. We are seeing Jamal Lewis and Tank Johnson go to jail because their crimes constituted jail time by the letter of the law. I dont know what all this special treatment is all about. Its just the fact that they have so much going for them with them being pro athletes that the fines and classes dont seem like much consequence because their lives are great. I think people like you seem to want athletes to get prosecuted more severely than regular people.


Well obviously SOMEONE does because there are laws regarding weed and alcohol for minors. Now I'm not saying I never did anything because I got into an assload of trouble, but your argument is ridiculous. So it's okay for Chris Henry to keep doing what he is doing, and for thurman to keep doing drugs because hey, it's only drugs and alcohol right? Your argument doesn't hold alot of weight.

[yourfavestoner]

For those of you saying that players aren't being "role models:" do you expect everybody to live their lives according to your morals and standards? Or just professional sports players? I think it's laughable that you'd expect anybody to be a role model for your kids except for you.

Vic Ketchman sums it up perfectly for me.

Mario from Fort Lauderdale, FL: What's your opinion on all these players getting in trouble with the law? Are we just making a big deal out of it because they're professional athletes?
Vic: Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts about this stuff. If it truly bothers you, I understand. My viewpoint has been hardened by 35 years of covering football. It’s no different now than it was when I started doing this. They got in trouble back then, too. The late George Young said something to me a long time ago and it governs my thoughts on these police-blotter matters. Young said, “It’s not a game for the well-adjusted.” It’s not. Most of the great players I’ve covered have had a scary side to them. I only know one great football player – Franco Harris – who didn’t have an aggressive personality. I want them to live by the law. I want them to be model citizens. I revel in those who are great players and great citizens. Mark Brunell, Tony Boselli, Byron Leftwich, Reggie Hayward and on and on are wonderful people with effervescent, loving, caring personalities. I am in awe of men like that who can be so tough on the field and so soft off it. Think about it. That’s an amazing ability; the ability to be all things to all people. Hooray for them, but I’m not going to sit in judgment of those who struggle to discipline their aggressiveness because I’d feel like a hypocrite that I cheer their aggressiveness on the field but condemn it off the field. For some, the aggressiveness that makes them great football player isn’t a light switch they can turn on and off.

http://jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=5903

[Splat]

Wow. That's a serious punishment. Maybe they're trying to make an example out of him.

They are and they should.

[yourfavestoner]

They are and they should.

Why? What crimes has he been convicted of to warrant being suspended for a year?

[Schenkel23]

I think the NFL is going overboard here in trying to fix their image. As many have already said, wait until he gets convicted of something.

[Splat]

"Since then, Jones has become the poster child for players gone wild. His rap sheet features a litany of arrests, outbursts and a strong implication that he frequently uses marijuana.

Jones topped all of that in February.

He was involved in an incident that resulted in the shooting of three people in Las Vegas after the NBA All-Star Game. Exactly what happened leading up to the shootings is unclear, but there were various accounts and reports of Jones being robbed; Jones hitting a stripper; and a member of his entourage firing a gun in the strip club where the madness took place, leaving one of the victims paralyzed.

In the aftermath, it has been uncovered that Jones was involved in two other incidents that the Titans and the league were unaware of and, according to police surveillance recordings, he's an acquaintance of a known drug dealer."

O Ya he is a Saint come on they have to play hard ball with him to open his eyes and the eyes of all the other troubled players in the NFL. The players backing the NFL on this shows a lot it has to stop bad players are giving good players a bad name.

[OzTitan]

You can't suspend a player for making himself look stupid, which is all Jones has done so far. That's absolutely ridiculous. It means the media would play a big role in who gets suspended by their coverage of events. It also means that players could become targets to provoke off the field to try and take them out of games - a little extreme but possible.

If Pacman gets suspended at all without a conviction, then the NFL needs to send out equal suspensions to everyone in the past year or so who's made a negative headline - Chris Henry, Ricky Manning, Porter and Levi Jones etc. Oh and they'd need to double whatever they give Jones and give that to Tank Johnson.

Just because Pacman's recent incidents are likely the straws that broke the camel's back doesn't mean all the stuff in recent times can be excused and he can be used as a scapegoat to send a message - if you're going to be strong, you've got to go the whole way and send a real message.

As far as I'm concerned, "suspension without conviction" is opening a whole can of worms that means players could now be at the mercy of the media. Anything Pacman does now days that isn't in the mold of Mr Good Citizen is going to get reported. Is that his fault? Sure, but the media plays a role too, and where do you draw the line? Is being approached by a psycho with a knife at a family bowling alley and making headlines your fault? Is having your house robbed your fault?

The NFL would be wise to refrain from acting the role of the morality police and just let the real police do their job, and act accordingly once the justice system has made its determination. It isn't happening on their field after all. If they think having a squeaky clean image for the league is possible, they're dreaming, wherever there are professional athletes, there will ALWAYS be the occasional incident - it's a world wide phenomenon. Unfortunately, every so often you're going to get players that take the "occasional incident" to the extreme, but there's just no way a direct fair line can be drawn between when enough is enough.

[yourfavestoner]

I think the NFL is going overboard here in trying to fix their image. As many have already said, wait until he gets convicted of something.

I agree completely. Like that opinion column I quoted says..."football is not a game for the well-adjusted." It's a sport that welcomes and encourages aggressiveness and violence, and, for many players, that's a part of their personalities. You're going to have players who break the law. So let the judicial system deal with it.

[Splat]

You can't suspend a player for making himself look stupid, which is all Jones has done so far.

That is not all he is done he has made the whole NFL look stupid he has made the Tennessee Titans look stupid for drafting him the guy has no one to blame but his self. If he was a no body everyone on here would want to lock him away and throw away the key but since he plays football he gets a pass and it ain't right.

[Schenkel23]

That is not all he is done he has made the whole NFL look stupid he has made the Tennessee Titans look stupid for drafting him the guy has no one to blame but his self. If he was a no body everyone on here would want to lock him away and throw away the key but since he plays football he gets a pass and it ain't right.

If he was a nobody, the NFL probably wouldn't want to ban him for a year to make an example of him, since no one would care.

[ks_perfection]

I don't think its fair that he gets no punishments for doing alot of stupid things and than all of a sudden gets suspeneded for an entire year. Treat it like steriods, give him a 4 game suspension first.

[OzTitan]

Regardless my point remains - if the NFL are going to start handing out suspensions for corrupting their apparently clean image without convictions, they are allowing media exposure and interpretation to dictate when a player violates this policy. It's simply not possible to judge this fairly each time - each and every case would need to be individually judged and that's just a hotbed for favoritism, corruption, and varying opinion from case to case. I think it's opening a can of worms the NFL would regret opening.

Suspending a player because he broke the law is clean, cut and effective. It's a simple black and white process. As far as I care, if law is good enough for me and the general public, it's good enough for NFL players.

[TheChampIsHere]

Why? What crimes has he been convicted of to warrant being suspended for a year?

yeah I dont think the NFL has any real rights to suspend him for a year. He hasnt been convicted of anything. If the Titans should decide to deactive him or something for conduct detrimental to the team then I wouldnt argue b/c even if I wouldnt do the same thing thats their decision to make and they dont have to put him on the field if they dont want. But the NFL cant just go suspending people without the due process of the law going through, it would be unconstitutional.

[TheChampIsHere]

Well obviously SOMEONE does because there are laws regarding weed and alcohol for minors. Now I'm not saying I never did anything because I got into an assload of trouble, but your argument is ridiculous. So it's okay for Chris Henry to keep doing what he is doing, and for thurman to keep doing drugs because hey, it's only drugs and alcohol right? Your argument doesn't hold alot of weight.

Im saying for us as fans...the premise that it taints the image of the whole NFL that some of the guys in it smoke weed is just ridiculous. I mean welcome to the real world. Anyone who thinks all these guys are perfect and none of them use drugs or drink or break the law or have personal problems. Its just a ridiulous premise. And I never said its okay for Henry to keep breaking the law, Im just saying I could personally care less about Henry and the trouble he gets in as long as it is minor stuff like that b/c its not important. And I dont think any other fan should care a whole lot about it either. It shouldnt be headline news when Chris Henry gets pulled over and they find a bag of weed in his car. As far as Im concerned, whatever legal consequences Henry deals with for marijuana charges or whatever is enough penalty in itself. If the NFL also wants to adopt a rule where if you get convicted of a crime you get 1 warning and the next time a 4 game suspension and the next time a 1 year suspension or something along the lines of that, something similar to the drug policy, Id be fine with that too. But the argument we just need to kick all these guys out of the league cuz theyre bad role models and theyre hurting the image of the NFL is just ridiculous. And the idea of suspending people for crimes they didnt get convicted of is flat out unconstitutional.

[OzTitan]

And I remind people, don't just approach this as what you think Jones personally deserves - look at it from a standpoint for what it would mean from now on. The new rule would be "If a player or a person with said player is a responsible for conduct detrimental to the NFL's image, he will be handed down a suspension for a length determined by us". See how wide open to interpretation that is? See how easily the judgment panel's opinion of a player could impact the penalty?

And where's the cut off for this new rule if they're going to impose it on a player who did something before it was implemented? the last few weeks? the last year? just Pacman? How is that fair?

[Zim3031]

yeah I dont think the NFL has any real rights to suspend him for a year. He hasnt been convicted of anything. If the Titans should decide to deactive him or something for conduct detrimental to the team then I wouldnt argue b/c even if I wouldnt do the same thing thats their decision to make and they dont have to put him on the field if they dont want. But the NFL cant just go suspending people without the due process of the law going through, it would be unconstitutional.

I do not believe Pacman should be suspended, but your calling of it as "unconstituional" is ridiculous. The NFL is a privately owned business that has the right to regulate how it runs by itself. If what you are suggesting is that the government has the right to interfere with how the NFL is run, then that would be unconstitutional. No law would be broken by the NFL suspended pacman.

[yourfavestoner]

"Since then, Jones has become the poster child for players gone wild. His rap sheet features a litany of arrests, outbursts and a strong implication that he frequently uses marijuana.

Jones topped all of that in February.

He was involved in an incident that resulted in the shooting of three people in Las Vegas after the NBA All-Star Game. Exactly what happened leading up to the shootings is unclear, but there were various accounts and reports of Jones being robbed; Jones hitting a stripper; and a member of his entourage firing a gun in the strip club where the madness took place, leaving one of the victims paralyzed.

In the aftermath, it has been uncovered that Jones was involved in two other incidents that the Titans and the league were unaware of and, according to police surveillance recordings, he's an acquaintance of a known drug dealer."

O Ya he is a Saint come on they have to play hard ball with him to open his eyes and the eyes of all the other troubled players in the NFL. The players backing the NFL on this shows a lot it has to stop bad players are giving good players a bad name.

The part that I bolded is the only instance you mentioned where Jones himself is even IMPLICATED in doing anything. As far as the shooting - we're still waiting to see how involved he was, or if he was even involved at all.

You also realize that it's not against the law to be the acquaintance of a drug dealer, don't you? When the **** did association become a crime?

[Splat]

The NFL is a job not like any other job but a job if you did the stuff that Pac Man has been doing what do you think your boss would do?

[OzTitan]

Well first I'd ask how the hell my boss knew about the incidents as they wouldn't be reported in the paper :)

Oh and you can sure as hell bet there would be a law suit in order if you were fired or suspended without pay for being around trouble but not arrested for it in a normal job too btw.

[Splat]

I forgot he plays in the NFL which makes him above all of us and the law instead of making him sit a year we should just give him more money for making it in the paper and on the news.

[Zim3031]

Well first I'd ask how the hell my boss knew about the incidents as they wouldn't be reported in the paper :)

Oh and you can sure as hell bet there would be a law suit in order if you were fired or suspended without pay for being around trouble but not arrested for it in a normal job too btw.
And Pacman can't file a lawsuit?

[OzTitan]

And Pacman can't file a lawsuit?

Sure, he could, but this goes back to my "opening a can of worms" thing - this isn't a once off thing, players arguably hurt the NFL's image all the time, why impose a policy if it is open to law suits? Stick to what the law determines is against its rules and act off that. You can't sue against that and I think it's more than enough - as I said, if the law's good enough for me and general society, it should be good enough for the NFL.

[Zim3031]

Sure, he could, but this goes back to my "opening a can of worms" thing - this isn't a once off thing, players arguably hurt the NFL's image all the time, why impose a policy if it is open to law suits? Stick to what the law determines is against its rules and act off that. You can't sue against that and I think it's more than enough - as I said, if the law's good enough for me and general society, it should be good enough for the NFL.
If the league suspends Pacman, Pacman files a lawsuit claiming that the suspension was unfair and unlawful and wins, then the NFL's policy will have been clearly suited as ridiculous and the reputation hit alone will cause them to abandon it. If something like that happens, the NFL will likely lose tons of revenue from some place or another and they would've learned their lesson when it comes to imposing idiotic policies.

[Splat]

"Goodell and the league are expected to get the full support of the NFL Players Association, making it difficult for individual players such as Jones to stop such penalties short of a lengthy court battle."

If the NFLPA is backing Goodell that shows how much trouble he has caused I don't see how any one could feel sorry for him.

[OzTitan]

I still think you need to look at this more from what it means for the league than what it means for Pacman. The new policy *has* to use the language "criminal activity" i.e. law breaking activity otherwise it's going to be a mess. There's no need to change what constitutes as conduct open for suspension - they just need to make the suspensions harsher.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

where does this pull the trigger nonsense come from? If Pac-Man kills someone he's gonna have much bigger problems than the NFL. We have a judicial system for a reason that doesnt allow for people to just get charged with crimes without due course. They dont charge you with a crime for being in a place where a crime occurs. The same thing goes for the NFL. they cant just go suspending players unless they have done their due course and found out if the player actually broke any rules. And honestly, when it comes to the Chris Henrys and Odell Thurmans of the world who smoke weed and buy alcohol for minors and other nonsense like that, you are taking that stuff way too seriously. Honestly, who gives a flying ----- about that kind of stuff. And theyre not getting off b/c theyre athletes, theyre getting off b/c theyre minor crimes, our courts dont usually prosecute people who get caught with a bag of weed on them, they cut em a deal and that goes for everyone. We are seeing Jamal Lewis and Tank Johnson go to jail because their crimes constituted jail time by the letter of the law. I dont know what all this special treatment is all about. Its just the fact that they have so much going for them with them being pro athletes that the fines and classes dont seem like much consequence because their lives are great. I think people like you seem to want athletes to get prosecuted more severely than regular people.

Okay, I don't even know where to start with this...

Honestly, the one major problem with your argument is that, guess what? Smoking marijuana is AGAINST THE LAW! Buying alcohol for minors is AGAINST THE LAW! That's why some people might "give a flying [expletive deleted]"... :rolleyes:

Now, don't give me any of this "athletes don't get special treatment"... are you serious!? I mean, look at people like Kobe Bryant or Tank Johnson are charged with crimes and are able to play children's games all over the country. You or I gets charged with any crime like them, we'd be thrown in jail faster than you can say "I'm innocent". And you think that we'd be able to be free to go play football or basketball and earn money? Forget it! If I was ever charged with a crime, I'd be lucky to bond out, and then be able to find a second job. Even if I wasn't found guilty, I'd be lucky to find another employer.

And this is what gets me the most, the fact that you think that people want "athletes to be prosecuted harsher than regular citizens". This is hilarious! If anything, I think that athletes more often than not get just a slap on the wrist than "regular" people. Usually, regular people get more jail time than celebrities.

I'm sick, physically sick, that great people like Tiki Barber, Peyton Manning, and Warrick Dunn (and notice I said people, not just athletes...) are always overshadowed by "gangsta" wannabes like Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, and Pacman Jones. :mad:

[Splat]

Nice post Saint.

[Ewing]

And Tank Johnson, Jamal Lewis (both convicted and one currently in jail) haven't tainted the NFL's image at all.....

Funny how the commish will choose a team based in Tennesse to do something like this. He will leave the Chicago team alone......I wonder which has the bigger market...hmm...
.


Best point in the whole thread. If they're going to suspend Pacman they should suspend the walking gun locker Tank Johnson.

[wogitalia]

The NFL is a job not like any other job but a job if you did the stuff that Pac Man has been doing what do you think your boss would do?

He wouldn't care unless it was directly affecting my work. In Pacman's case its hard to say that him being associated with people causing trouble(which is all he has done so far) is affecting his work performance, especially given he just had the best season of his career.

Okay, I don't even know where to start with this...

Honestly, the one major problem with your argument is that, guess what? Smoking marijuana is AGAINST THE LAW! Buying alcohol for minors is AGAINST THE LAW! That's why some people might "give a flying [expletive deleted]"... :rolleyes:

Now, don't give me any of this "athletes don't get special treatment"... are you serious!? I mean, look at people like Kobe Bryant or Tank Johnson are charged with crimes and are able to play children's games all over the country. You or I gets charged with any crime like them, we'd be thrown in jail faster than you can say "I'm innocent". And you think that we'd be able to be free to go play football or basketball and earn money? Forget it! If I was ever charged with a crime, I'd be lucky to bond out, and then be able to find a second job. Even if I wasn't found guilty, I'd be lucky to find another employer.

And this is what gets me the most, the fact that you think that people want "athletes to be prosecuted harsher than regular citizens". This is hilarious! If anything, I think that athletes more often than not get just a slap on the wrist than "regular" people. Usually, regular people get more jail time than celebrities.

I'm sick, physically sick, that great people like Tiki Barber, Peyton Manning, and Warrick Dunn (and notice I said people, not just athletes...) are always overshadowed by "gangsta" wannabes like Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, and Pacman Jones. :mad:

You do realize that the reason they get treated "lightly" is because they hire better lawyers. You hire a lawyer of the quality that represent pro athletes and you get the same treatment as they do, without the media dragging your name through the mud. It's money, not who they are, that puts them somewhat above the law.

The NFL is totally out of line here. If they are giving a years suspension for association, then they have to be consistent and therefore being found guilty must carry at least twice the suspension. In otherwords half of the Bengals should be suspended for at least 2 seasons and a good proportion of several other teams should also get the boot.

On top of that, does the severity of the crime you are associated with determine the length of your suspension. Should Ray Lewis be getting a life suspension for being associated with a murder. Does Culpepper get the same for being associated with sexual assault? It is a very dangerous precedent to be able to suspend a player for being associated with someone, in fact its stupid. Should you suspend an owner if it can be proven that he has ever affiliated with anyone that is a shady character, and nearly every owner has.

If Pacman is guilty, fair enough, but until so, he should be untouchable by the league. If they want to implement a guilty by association policy, then you had better apply it to everyone and you create an even stupider scenario. Vince Young has associated with Pacman, who by the NFL's own judgement becomes shady by association. Are they going to suspend the whole league given that?

[PalmerToCJ]

I can agree with this, but....

I think it's lame that he gets 1 year for off field stuff while Merriman only gets 4 games for cheating...

[andyjo672]

For those of you making the claim of "innocence until proven guilty," it holds no jurisdiction in this matter. The NFL as an organization holds the right to ban anyone whether they have been proven guilty or not.

Look at any professional organization that you or your parents work at. If they were ever arrested in an incident like the one that took place in Las Vegas they would be without a job immediately as their employer would more likely than not fire them. Most places will fire you immediately if you receive a DUI and often times in contracts that are signed for employment they have exact provisions in them stating that this kind of behavior is grounds for immediate termination despite court proven guilt.

These players need to understand that they are employees of the NFL, and for that reason are actually quite lucky that they are only suspended for DUI's and possession charges. 1 year is NOT enough. A person was permanently paralyzed in the Las Vegas incident and Pac Man has done nothing to prove that he has ever been an upstanding citizen. Make him sit, and I dont care if that causes him to get into more trouble, hopefully then nobody will take another shot at him and he'll have to sit and realize the opportunity that he squandered away.

[andyjo672]

yeah I dont think the NFL has any real rights to suspend him for a year. He hasnt been convicted of anything. If the Titans should decide to deactive him or something for conduct detrimental to the team then I wouldnt argue b/c even if I wouldnt do the same thing thats their decision to make and they dont have to put him on the field if they dont want. But the NFL cant just go suspending people without the due process of the law going through, it would be unconstitutional.

You're wrong about the unconstitutional part. People, please, stop trying to make this case into something more than it is. The NFL has every right to suspend any player they feel like, whether they're proven guilty or not. They give more leeway than any other organization you will ever work for, so you can either understand that or be in for a real shock when you start working and understand that constitutionality has little to do with the employer's right to hire and fire anyone at anytime for little to no reason at all.

[TitanHope]

This is stupid. I think Pac Man is a punk ass, beezotch more than the next guy. But one year IS too severe.

Albert Haynesworth was issued a 5 week suspension, for an ON THE FIELD INCIDENT. He stomped on another players unprotected face...twice! Thats assault! If Andre Gurode wanted to press charges against Haynesworth, he could have.

The entire thing is going to be subjective, which makes the whole system flawed. "Well, player A slapped his wife and was arrested. I think 12 weeks is a good suspension." "Player B was charged with a DUI yesterday, and has another incident with the law over a year ago. I think kicking him out of the league for a year is ok."

Listen, the point isn't that Pac Man doesn't deserve a suspension. We all are in agreement that he does. But, he hasn't been convicted of anything, and may being suspended for a year... What happens to the players who are convicted of something? Do they get two years? What about guys who do worse things than Pac, but no convictions are made? They get a year and a half?

[smittyjs]

That is not all he is done he has made the whole NFL look stupid he has made the Tennessee Titans look stupid for drafting him the guy has no one to blame but his self. If he was a no body everyone on here would want to lock him away and throw away the key but since he plays football he gets a pass and it ain't right.
Titans drafted him to be one of the Best CB and KR/PR in the NFL which he has shown. I have people in my own family with promblems, but it doesn't mean we all do, if people think we all do i'll laugh at them for holdong us all to the same level, thats there promblem for being stupid and believing that, not are. The same thing with the titans and Pacman, if so thinks it makes us look stupid we drafted pacman and he plays for us than thats there promblem and there just a fool for thinking that the only players on this team are pacman clones, because there not. If you think Pacman needs to be locked up, then there another 200 players in the NFL thats need to be also.

[Xiomera]

Suspend him for the year. This needs to stop. And stop soon.

[Ho0k Em']

yeah, what Haynesworth did is by far worse than anything Pac-Man as done, especially as it concerns the NFL.
.

Didn't he supposedly punch a stripper and tell a bouncer he would be dead at the end of the night and was then shot a couple hours later and left crippled.

[MP123]

He should be suspended for one year. Then maybe he'll get his act together. Odell Thurman was suspended for one year and he didn't have half the arrests as Pacman Jones.

[bearsfan_51]

I'd prefer he just be executed, but I guess this will do.

[TheChampIsHere]

Okay, I don't even know where to start with this...

Honestly, the one major problem with your argument is that, guess what? Smoking marijuana is AGAINST THE LAW! Buying alcohol for minors is AGAINST THE LAW! That's why some people might "give a flying [expletive deleted]"... :rolleyes:

Now, don't give me any of this "athletes don't get special treatment"... are you serious!? I mean, look at people like Kobe Bryant or Tank Johnson are charged with crimes and are able to play children's games all over the country. You or I gets charged with any crime like them, we'd be thrown in jail faster than you can say "I'm innocent". And you think that we'd be able to be free to go play football or basketball and earn money? Forget it! If I was ever charged with a crime, I'd be lucky to bond out, and then be able to find a second job. Even if I wasn't found guilty, I'd be lucky to find another employer.

And this is what gets me the most, the fact that you think that people want "athletes to be prosecuted harsher than regular citizens". This is hilarious! If anything, I think that athletes more often than not get just a slap on the wrist than "regular" people. Usually, regular people get more jail time than celebrities.

I'm sick, physically sick, that great people like Tiki Barber, Peyton Manning, and Warrick Dunn (and notice I said people, not just athletes...) are always overshadowed by "gangsta" wannabes like Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, and Pacman Jones. :mad:

OK, well I break the law when I J-walk. Im not 21 yet and Ive drank alcohol how many times? Thats against the law every time. And who have you ever known that didnt drink before 21? My point, they are minor crimes. Its not a big deal. If you get caught, it is a minor punishment, and this is coming from someone who has been caught. I got a public defender, Im not a celebrity or anything, but I work the system and the possesion charges get dropped as long as I comply. Athletes do the same thing. Honestly, if you or any other fan in the world is seriously upset by Chris Henry smoking some weed, you need to get a life. No joke. Yeah, the authorities will care and it will get dealt with but for god sake why would I give a rats ass if he smokes some weed or buys some alcohol for some one whos under 21 as if these are some terrible things???

Kobe Bryant didnt get special treatment. The case got dropped because she wouldnt take the stand. The difference b/w an athlete and an average joe? The athlete has money to post bond, the athlete has money to hire a good lawyer, and the athlete also happens to be one of the best people in the world at his job. Welcome to the way of the world. Anyone with money who has a good job that they are good at will enjoy these same luxuries if they get in trouble with the law, whether they are an athlete, businessman, writer, stock broker, doctor, actor, celebrity, etc. If youre a construction worker or a bottom of the rung type worker at some office job and you get arrested they'll fire you because youre easily replaceable. They are in a fortunate position in life, they have so much going for them its not as easy for their lives to come apart. Thats just the world we live in. But you act like the judges or DA see that the defendant is an athlete and decide not to press charges. Jamal Lewis went to jail for a phone conversation involving him setting up a drug deal from before he was even in the league, Tank Johnson is in jail right now. All these guys, Chris Henry, etc they get brought into jail just like anyone else would and then they post bond and get out.

And I do mean that some people want these athletes to get penalized beyond what regular people would be. They want Pac-Man to be made an example, they want him to get locked up for a long time. But if it was you or me who had done what Pac-Man has done we wouldnt be convicted of anything either, at least not yet.

And that last part about Warrick Dunn, Tiki Barber, etc. Yeah, its true they are great people, and its a shame there arent more of them out there. But wake up, not everyone is gonna be that good of a person. Thats just the real world. The pool of players in the NFL is not a group of saints, some are gonna have problems, big and small. Its a shame that we choose to spend more time talking about Pac-Man and Chris Henry than Warrick Dunn and the great things he does off the field. I wholeheartedly agree. But we should blame that on Pac-Man? We need to blame the media, we need to blame ourselves for choosing to make a celebrity out of Pac-Man for his off-field troubles and for focusing on that. Its not like he wants all this attention from the media. Thats what we do in the football media nowadays, we focus on players with problems 100x as much as players who are shining examples. And tossing one out of the league doesnt fix that problem, cuz this is the real world and there will always be people with problems, and some of those people will be proffesional athletes and we're never gonna get rid of it completely. If it was that easy, no one would do crime anymore because of the threat of going to jail.

[CC.SD]

This guy ordered his cronies to shoot somebody, and they did. It's a joke that anyone can defend him. He is scum. Forget football, think about real life.

[TheChampIsHere]

Didn't he supposedly punch a stripper and tell a bouncer he would be dead at the end of the night and was then shot a couple hours later and left crippled.

where do you get this stuff? I have not heard anything anywhere about him punching a stripper or telling a bouncer he would be dead or anything of the sort. We have absolutely no idea if Pac-Man knew the shooter in any way at all. We dont know why the bouncer got shot. What you are bringing in there is nothing but some he-said she-said rumors that are completely unsubstantiated and we all know we cant believe every damn thing we hear.

And what I mean is what tarnishes the image of the NFL more? A player getting into a bar fight off the field? Or a player stomping the head of another player durring a nationally broadcast game. You wanna talk about role models for kids and showing kids how the game is supposed to be played and all that, it cant get worse than that. On the field is when these guys are expected to be doing right and being an example. We cant expect them to be role models 24/7/365. It would be nice but its unrealistic.

[bearsfan_51]

Best point in the whole thread. If they're going to suspend Pacman they should suspend the walking gun locker Tank Johnson.
Umm..they are going to suspend Tank.

[GiantRutgersFan]

Pacman is obviously gulity. What do we got here a bunch of lawyers?


1 year suspension? fantastic. And BTW, if Pacman sues the NFL, do you really think that any owner would allow him to be brought into their team?

[Bengals1690]

he desevres maybe a half a seasons suspension. He hasnt been convicted of anything, but he turns up in the wrong place a the wrong time so much that it cant be a coincindence.

[Bengals1690]

where do you get this stuff? I have not heard anything anywhere about him punching a stripper or telling a bouncer he would be dead or anything of the sort. We have absolutely no idea if Pac-Man knew the shooter in any way at all. We dont know why the bouncer got shot. What you are bringing in there is nothing but some he-said she-said rumors that are completely unsubstantiated and we all know we cant believe every damn thing we hear.

And what I mean is what tarnishes the image of the NFL more? A player getting into a bar fight off the field? Or a player stomping the head of another player durring a nationally broadcast game. You wanna talk about role models for kids and showing kids how the game is supposed to be played and all that, it cant get worse than that. On the field is when these guys are expected to be doing right and being an example. We cant expect them to be role models 24/7/365. It would be nice but its unrealistic.

this happened at the NBA all star game, it happened. he also bit a cop, spits in womens faces. and smokes marijuana,

[smittyjs]

he desevres maybe a half a seasons suspension. He hasnt been convicted of anything, but he turns up in the wrong place a the wrong time so much that it cant be a coincindence.Well i guess they need to suspended Henry for two to three season. And ayleast a year for anyone with an DUI, gun charges, hell maybe even a speeding ticket. Edit

[smittyjs]

this happened at the NBA all star game, it happened. he also bit a cop, spits in womens faces. and smokes marijuana,Who doesn't in the NFL LOL

[bearsfan_51]

Oh just stop it. You wouldn't care if you weren't a Titans fan. Pacman is the leagues biggest embaressment. He's a thug. They have the right to do whatever they want, and as fans, most of us support that.

[smittyjs]

Oh just stop it. You wouldn't care if you weren't a Titans fan. Pacman is the leagues biggest embaressment. He's a thug. They have the right to do whatever they want, and as fans, most of us support that.
Oh stop your comment on something well above your head, i wouldn't care if they suspended him a year(as stated in the titans thread), but if your going to suspened him, then your going to need to suspend(which most NFL fan would start whinning at that moment).

[Ewing]

I agree with smitty, if you're going to suspend Pacman there is at least fifty other guys who should be suspended as well. Don't make Pacman the fall guy for the whole league.

[Merlin]

I agree with smitty, if you're going to suspend Pacman there is at least fifty other guys who should be suspended as well. Don't make Pacman the fall guy for the whole league.
Why not, it has to start with someone, and right now, he's the "poster boy"!

Should one of those "50" transgress again, then lets hope the lge throws the book at them too!

[yourfavestoner]

I agree with smitty, if you're going to suspend Pacman there is at least fifty other guys who should be suspended as well. Don't make Pacman the fall guy for the whole league.

That's how I feel about it, and I'm not exactly a Titans fan. I just see it as the Pandora's Box that the league doesn't want to open.

[LSUALUM99]

To all you wannabe lawyers out there. Study more, and talk less.

An employer has every right to fire you for any reason that is NOT related to Race, Religion, Sex, Age or Handicap. Period.

If I, as an employer, want to fire an employee because I feel they tarnish the image of my company I have every right to do so.

In fact, if those of you arguing this point, had ever had a corporate job, you would realize just this. You would realize that employers will fire people for being late 1 time to work. They don't HAVE to fire you, but they are perfectly abliged to if they wish.

Get off your high horses, trying to spout legal conerns that you clearly have no grasp of, and learn the facts before you post.

[OzTitan]

If they want to impose their own set of laws that extend off the playing field, then the NFL should at the very least clean the slate and let everyone start from scratch - I just don't see how you can lay down the NFL law on one person who did something before it came about and not everyone else. Where is the cut off point and why is that the cut off point?

[LSUALUM99]

That is a valid opinion, Oz. But it's not any legal bias. If you feel that way it's fine, but when people try to make it some sort of legal or issue or (laughably) a constitutional issue it's rediculous.

It's bad enough some kids try and discuss issues they know nothing about. But when they try to talk about Corporate America as if they have even the slightest clue, it's irritating.

Your argument is akin to trying to get out of a speeding ticket because the cop didn't also catch the other cars speeding. What other people do or get away with, when you are also commiting the same infraction, is irrelavent.

And for those that don't understand what I mean by infraction, I mean it in the context of embarrassing the NFL.

[bearsfan_51]

Oh stop your comment on something well above your head, i wouldn't care if they suspended him a year(as stated in the titans thread), but if your going to suspened him, then your going to need to suspend(which most NFL fan would start whinning at that moment).
Hahaha...over my head? How in the world is this over my head? I'm pretty sure that I'm capable of discussing league infractions, it's not that complicated (although apparently it seems to be.

Not to mention that you didn't even finish your thought. "Your (it's you're by the way smartass) going to need to suspend"

Suspend what? What does that mean? Do you mean suspend every violator? Go for it. So far there has yet to be a single violator to the degree of Pac-Man except for maybe Chris Henry, so I don't think that would be an issue at all.

[WinslowBodden]

I think this is the wrong thing to do with someone like this... Pacman Jones needs football believe it or not... He has a rough life out of football it seems and suspending him for one year could make his life spiral out of control... I would give him one more chance and if he screws up then you can suspend him for a long time.

[draftguru151]

Hahaha...over my head? How in the world is this over my head? I'm pretty sure that I'm capable of discussing league infractions, it's not that complicated (although apparently it seems to be.

Not to mention that you didn't even finish your thought. "Your (it's you're by the way smartass) going to need to suspend"

Suspend what? What does that mean? Do you mean suspend every violator? Go for it. So far there has yet to be a single violator to the degree of Pac-Man except for maybe Chris Henry, so I don't think that would be an issue at all.

He wasn't arguing for Pac Man, he was just saying if you suspend him then you will have to suspend other players as well. And I believe that was the end of his thought.

[smittyjs]

Hahaha...over my head? How in the world is this over my head? I'm pretty sure that I'm capable of discussing league infractions, it's not that complicated (although apparently it seems to be.

Not to mention that you didn't even finish your thought. "Your (it's you're by the way smartass) going to need to suspend"

Suspend what? What does that mean? Do you mean suspend every violator? Go for it. So far there has yet to be a single violator to the degree of Pac-Man except for maybe Chris Henry, so I don't think that would be an issue at all.
Yes i meant every violator ST, Leonard Little, Tank Johnson, Jamal lewis, Steve McNair, Dhani Jones, Reggie McNeal, Terrence Kiel, Barrett Brooks, Eric Steinbach, Cortland Finnegan, A.J. Nicholson, Ricky Manning Jr...to name a few that would also need sometime of suspension along with Pac Attack and herny.

[bearsfan_51]

Leonard Little should be in jail for the rest of this life. Don't even get me started on that.

[Kurve]

i personally think it should of been longer. In all honesty he has been in so many legal problems since he has been in the NFL ,time for him to hold some sort of responsibility for his actions. Everyone wants to give guys 100000 million breaks but guy like Pacman makes everyone else and the organization look bad because of his actions. NFL can do what ever it pleases if they truely feel that pacman isnt following the rules and conduct they believe that he should be conducting him self in they have every right to suspend him for a year. It truely effects everyone especially his team even though these are off the field issues.

[OzTitan]

That is a valid opinion, Oz. But it's not any legal bias. If you feel that way it's fine, but when people try to make it some sort of legal or issue or (laughably) a constitutional issue it's rediculous.

It's bad enough some kids try and discuss issues they know nothing about. But when they try to talk about Corporate America as if they have even the slightest clue, it's irritating.

Your argument is akin to trying to get out of a speeding ticket because the cop didn't also catch the other cars speeding. What other people do or get away with, when you are also commiting the same infraction, is irrelavent.

And for those that don't understand what I mean by infraction, I mean it in the context of embarrassing the NFL.

I don't agree with the speeding ticket comparison at all. That would suggest the NFL aren't aware of the other incident's specifics - i.e. who did them and what they did - which they are. It would be more akin to pulling over 10 people and only handing out a sentence under the "new laws" to one even though all 10 were done before the new laws were even being discussed.

Also, how do you clearly define embarrassing the NFL? Is it not embarrassing when you hear stories about Peyton Manning charging a kids family $200,000 for a birthday party appearance? I've also heard stories from pretty reliable people that suggest there is a boys club/scouts type thing still paying off his appearance fee from years ago. Again, this goes back to the media playing too much of a role if the NFL are creating new laws - just because they choose not to make a media scene out of this stuff and other stuff like it because of the player involved, that means it isn't detriment to the NFL's image? Would the NFL consider that a burden on their image? It's all very vague. They'd have to specifically define every single scenario where a player isn't breaking the law but he is apparently breaking NFL law, and the gauge would be how badly the media respond? That's just dumb.

[OzTitan]

BTW LSUALUM99:

Colorado law makes it "a discriminatory or unfair employment
practice for an employer to terminate the employment of any employee
due to that employee's engaging in any lawful activity off the
premises of the employer during nonworking hours...."

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/emp08.htm

Granted it does mention termination and not suspension and that's just for Colorado (it mentions 15 states have similar laws), but it's an example that I think this area isn't black and white itself and I think there's a good chance it would go to court, either with Pacman or someone else down the line.

I just think it's a mess waiting to happen and that sticking to disciplinary actions for actual law breakers is more than enough to address image concerns. Honestly I don't even see why people seem to connect what stupid stuff Pacman does to either the Titans or the NFL - his off the field actions don't influence my opinion of either in the slightest because I don't expect the NFL or the Titans to act as the morality police. I expect the NFL to act on players who break the law and I expect the Titans to act on players who negatively influence their team like TO did for the Eagles. If Pacman wants to hang around thugs and come inches away from losing his career every weekend that's his choice, I don't see why anyone thinks that makes the NFL look bad and if they were truly serious about it, they'd screen these players before they even entered the league in the first place. I don't think it's so much the NFL trying to think of a long term image solution than it is the NFL trying to find someone to use as a image "quick fix".

[zoinks]

It appears that a lot of people have bought hook, line, and sinker into the club owner's version of what happened...this, from a guy who wasn't even there, and conducted "his own investigation" to ascertain the chain of events.

Funny how not one of the club owner's sources has come forward to offer an eyewitness account of what happened....absolutely nobody has corraborated his story. Kind of odd, considering the high-profile nature and massive media coverage of the incident, wouldn't you say? Until somebody steps forward to confirm Susnar's version of events, I'll go with the results of the official police investigation. The fact that no charges have been filed after six weeks leads me to believe that Robert Susnar's account bears little resemblance to the truth....he's just trying to cover his own butt and deflect any potential liability on the part of the club.

I'm not saying Pacman doesn't deserve a suspension....he absolutely does, if for no other reason, then pure stupidity. The Titans gave him a one-game suspension last year, which obviously wasn't enough.....something has to open this kid's eyes. However, I believe a one-year suspension is beyond excessive.

What exactly has Pacman done to warrant a full year's suspension, and about $2-3M in lost wages? Granted, his track record is long, but each of the incidents has boiled down to immaturity and poor judgement. Everyone will agree that he's a stupid-ass punk who needs a strong dose of reality, but I believe a 4-8 game suspension would get the point across just fine. Extending it to a full year would accomplish nothing, and could actually be quite detrimental for a guy as volatile as Jones; keeping him away for a couple months would allow him to maintain a level of focus....a full year's downtime could prove to be rope with which he hangs himself.

Give him a lengthy suspension, and a full year of mandatory counseling...whatever it takes. It would just be a terrible shame for him to become the fall guy for the new commissioner to make his mark. Players like Jones don't come along very often...the kid is an elite performer at two different positions, and is an unbelievable playmaker in clutch situations. For those who haven't watched him, he's every bit as exciting and dangerous as Vince Young. With proper direction, Pacman could be another superstar in the vein of Deion Sanders, an example of how the conduct policy can work to help players, as opposed to simply penalizing them.

Another important consideration is how Jones' suspension affects the Titans as a team. Losing Jones for a full season would be a catastrophic blow to a team that has done nothing to warrant such a penalty. It would be one thing if they had turned the other cheek to Jones' past incidents, but they didn't. The club has done everything in their power to address his issues, including a suspension last year that cost Pacman a six-figure paycheck. (Mind you, this was a team-administered suspension....the league had nothing to do with it. In fact, I don't know that Jones has ever been disciplined by the league office.)

[Boston]

I think this is the wrong thing to do with someone like this... Pacman Jones needs football believe it or not... He has a rough life out of football it seems and suspending him for one year could make his life spiral out of control... I would give him one more chance and if he screws up then you can suspend him for a long time.

It's not like he stole a cookie out of the cookie jar. He knew what he was doing, and what the punishment would be.

[WinslowBodden]

It's not like he stole a cookie out of the cookie jar. He knew what he was doing, and what the punishment would be.

Yeah, and how many crimes has he been convicted of?

I HATE Pacman Jones, I am just saying, you take football away from him for a year, what does he do?

Hang out with his friends that are bad already, the dude needs football, tell him he has one more chance, and if he messes up again hes out of the league FOR GOOD.

[OzTitan]

I still don't really see the point in penalizing anyone under a new rule when the infraction(s) occurred before it was inducted. His recent events have opened the NFL's eyes it seems, what if it has opened Pacman's eyes once and for all too? Sending him out for a year to me is the NFL being too eager to make an example of someone. Put the new rules in, clean the slate and wait for the first case where the player acted against the rules AFTER they were made and make an example of him. If that someone is Pacman then he well and truly deserves it.

[wogitalia]

Given that the new rule is backdated, what is Ray Lewis' punishment for being around a guy who murdered someone? Last time I checked, murder is a hell of a lot more serious than assault, which is all Pacman was around.

You cant suspend someone for who they hang around with, shouldnt suspend someone using a new rule for old acts(not crimes because Pacman hasnt committed one) and I dont think you should punish the fans because you dont like someone or who they associate with. By all means bring down the hammer if and when he does something(or anyone else), but until then the league should stay out of it.

Aside from that, does anyone else find it funny that the league cares more about a guy whose friend gets in trouble than a guy who cheated(Merriman)?

Also, I dont think you can entirely blame the shooter anyway, I've been hitting clubs for 4+ years now a good 3 nights a week and I have never once been shot at, or had a gun pulled on me, never been in a fight, it takes two to tango and at some point if you are out looking for fights, what happens in that fight is your responsibility.

[OzTitan]

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070325&Category=COLUMNIST0202&ArtNo=703250398&SectionCat=SPORTS&Template=printart

One of Pac's biggest critics posts his views.

[eacantdraft]

About time. Maybe it will send messages to other players and wanna be ganstas.

[LSUALUM99]

BTW LSUALUM99:



http://www.lectlaw.com/files/emp08.htm

Granted it does mention termination and not suspension and that's just for Colorado (it mentions 15 states have similar laws), but it's an example that I think this area isn't black and white itself and I think there's a good chance it would go to court, either with Pacman or someone else down the line.

I just think it's a mess waiting to happen and that sticking to disciplinary actions for actual law breakers is more than enough to address image concerns. Honestly I don't even see why people seem to connect what stupid stuff Pacman does to either the Titans or the NFL - his off the field actions don't influence my opinion of either in the slightest because I don't expect the NFL or the Titans to act as the morality police. I expect the NFL to act on players who break the law and I expect the Titans to act on players who negatively influence their team like TO did for the Eagles. If Pacman wants to hang around thugs and come inches away from losing his career every weekend that's his choice, I don't see why anyone thinks that makes the NFL look bad and if they were truly serious about it, they'd screen these players before they even entered the league in the first place. I don't think it's so much the NFL trying to think of a long term image solution than it is the NFL trying to find someone to use as a image "quick fix".


From that same article you forgot to print this quote:

"If the Constitution doesn't apply to the private workplace, what
does?

The vast majority of American employees, of whom there are 100
million in all, are governed by a doctrine called "employment at
will." This doctrine, a relic of 19th century anti-labor laws, gives
employers the unfettered right to fire workers at any time, for any
reason, whether grave or frivolous. Indeed, one can be fired for no
reason at all."


The fact is that the vast majority of the states in the US are 'at will' states. Tennessee is one of them btw.

[LSUALUM99]

Also,

Why are some of you confused as to the obligations of any employer to it's employees. An employer has every right to hire and fire it's employees for whatever reasons it wants. You can't dictate whom they hire or whom they fire.

Imagine how idiotic it would be for a player not drafted into the NFL to take them to court. Even Clarett's case was won by the NFL and that wasn't wheter he was drafted or not, that was just whether he should be ALLOWED to be drafted.

[bigbluedefense]

Whats all the fuss about? The NFL needs to get tougher on its players. And they have every right too. At the end of the day, players are merely employees. They are held accountable at work just like the rest of us. You should be able to fire a worker if his actions warrant it.

[draftguru151]

Whats all the fuss about? The NFL needs to get tougher on its players. And they have every right too. At the end of the day, players are merely employees. They are held accountable at work just like the rest of us. You should be able to fire a worker if his actions warrant it.

I think people are complaining of 2 things, 1. he hasn't been convicted and 2. why pac man and not the many other players that have done something.

[TheChampIsHere]

Also,

Why are some of you confused as to the obligations of any employer to it's employees. An employer has every right to hire and fire it's employees for whatever reasons it wants. You can't dictate whom they hire or whom they fire.

Imagine how idiotic it would be for a player not drafted into the NFL to take them to court. Even Clarett's case was won by the NFL and that wasn't wheter he was drafted or not, that was just whether he should be ALLOWED to be drafted.

Im talking about the Titans firing him. The Titans obviously have every right to fire or cut him, which is what firing him would be. Im talking about the NFL issuing a suspension for mis conduct without carrying out a proper investigation and finding him guilty of something. I dont believe the NFL is techinically his employer, that is the Titans.

As far as laws overall for employees-employers im not pretending to be an expert here....I know it depends a lot on different companies and states so there is no one way it is done...I know there are some companies that have a period at the begginning of employment of someone where they can do that at-will firing deal. For instance, I had a job where they had a 3 month period when I first got hired and at the end of or any point during the 3 months they could decide to fire me without giving me any reason or anything, but after that firing me would get a lot more complicated....I eventually quit the job when I moved so it never came to that.

And who are all these people pretending to know for a fact what happenned at the club that night? Its ridiculous that so many of you are claiming it as fact that Pac-Man ordered the shooting. Stop pretending like you actually know exactly what went down there.

[eacantdraft]

Yeah, and how many crimes has he been convicted of?

I HATE Pacman Jones, I am just saying, you take football away from him for a year, what does he do?

Hang out with his friends that are bad already, the dude needs football, tell him he has one more chance, and if he messes up again hes out of the league FOR GOOD.

Football is not always going to be around for Pacman. He is going to have to learn to live without it. The guy is in his mid 20's. Most people at that age have something to do and live responsible lives. No exceptions or excuses for Pacman.

Time for him to grow up.

[my future me]

If Pacman was the 50th guy on a roster, he would have been cut, perhaps blacklisted (except from Cincy) and nobody would care. He was, however, a top ten pick, a star in the NFL, and has a high salary. He violated NFL rules by not mentioning to the NFL that he was arrested two times previous. The NFL has every right to suspend him. The Players association will "appeal" but its not worth crying over spilt milk.

They're trying to make an example of him like baseball and Barry Bonds. The thing that keeps the NFL so successful is its image and if Pacman is threatening that then he his potentially costing the league tens of millions

[TheChampIsHere]

If Pacman was the 50th guy on a roster, he would have been cut, perhaps blacklisted (except from Cincy) and nobody would care. He was, however, a top ten pick, a star in the NFL, and has a high salary. He violated NFL rules by not mentioning to the NFL that he was arrested two times previous. The NFL has every right to suspend him. The Players association will "appeal" but its not worth crying over spilt milk.

They're trying to make an example of him like baseball and Barry Bonds. The thing that keeps the NFL so successful is its image and if Pacman is threatening that then he his potentially costing the league tens of millions

yeah when you work in the mail room for some company, they're gonna fire you at the first hint of trouble. Youre a mail room worker, youre not skilled, they have no reason to put up with any problems. If youre one of the top brokers for that same company, you think they'll just fire you easily? No, youre valuable too them. This is the way of the world. Of course an NFL team will put up with more stuff from Pac-Man Jones than they will Travis Laboy