NFL Gets It Right

It is not very often that I commend the actions of Roger Goodell and the NFL as I feel they do a terrible job in disciplining the players. Often Goodell is too soft on guys who get busted for drugs and too harsh on guys who “make it rain” in a strip club. Seriously a whole year suspension for throwing money at the rippers? Craziness.

Goodell is not a favourite of mine but after the decision he made on Thursday he definitely moved up a spot in my book.

Two days after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter while driving drunk, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was suspended indefinitely by the N.F.L., the league announced Thursday.

Stallworth, 28, is serving a 30-day prison sentence for killing 59-year-old Mario Reyes while driving drunk in Miami on March 14. His suspension was effective immediately, Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league,” Goodell said to Stallworth in a letter.

Goodell said Stallworth violated the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.

Stallworth, who signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with Cleveland before last season, had a .126 blood-alcohol level. The legal limit in Florida is .08. He had faced a 15-year prison sentence, but his cooperation with the police, lack of a criminal record and the wish of the victim’s family for a speedy resolution led to his plea agreement. He was also sentenced to two years’ house arrest and eight years’ probation.

I am sad to see that the NFL is giving out a stiffer punishment than the judicial system. 30 days for killing someone is pathetic. The judge who allowed that sentence to be carried out should be forced retire or at least make a public apology.

I understand that the family agreed to a cash settlement but that doesn’t make it right. What is to stop Stallworth from doing something like this again?

JA Adande recently said on Around the Horn that, "if the family is ok with the settlement then that is all that matters since no amount of jail time or money will bring back the deceased." Adande's argument to me is flawed in that it misses the bigger picture.

Athletes or the rich and the famous shouldn't be able to get away with murder because they have a lot of money. Just because Stallworth has millions of dollars he can throw at this problem doesn't mean the judge should have allowed that to happen. An example should have been made that would have shown everyone that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished.

Goodell for all his faults had stepped up and let it be known that Stallworth embarrassed the NFL and will no longer be a representative of the league. His actions no longer fall under the blanket of the NFL name. Goodell saw that the court ruling wasn't even close to harsh enough and used his own authority to punish Stallworth further.

I only wish that he had been banned from the league for life rather than just suspended.

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