Pacman and Henry : Get Worse Than Slap on the Wrist!!

Today new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell laid down the law and made an example out of Adam “Pacman” Jones and Chris Henry in this first and most likely most memorable act as NFL commissioner. Goodell suspended Pacman for the whole 07-08’ season and Henry unable to touch the field for the first half of the season.

Pacman’s latest news was the week of the basketball all star break. He was in a Strip club with his friends, and there was a shooting, Pacman’s people were involved and one people shot was left paralyzed. Las Vegas police believe he was a major part of that incidence also but hasn’t been charged. The major word there is believed. Pacman has had his name in the paper a lot along with Henry (Henry 4 times in the last 14 months). Both of them have something in common, as of this point they have not been found guilty of anything. So these men are losing out on a years and a half of action because of allegations and being in the wrong place and the wrong time according to the legal system. If you ask me, most likely they are guilty of something; because no one has that much bad luck to appear in the papers on a weekly basis without being involved once. But the problem that I have with this harsh of a punishment without any legal action seems to be a pretty slippery slope. Now when Tank Johnson after he gets out of prisons and he sees a punishment this harsh I would see no problem with it. He was actually found guilty of caring illegal guns and ammunitions in this car.

There is one more thing that I don’t like about the punishment besides the length. Both of these guys are not allowed to be a part of the team. They are not allowed to practice, go to mini camp, the whole nine yards. Now this might make sense to the masses but not to me. These guys have made it clear that they don’t do well when they are giving free time. So by giving them more makes no sense. Plus they need to have the other guys on the team to help them go through this very tough situation. A least they would have these friends on the team to hang out with and give them less time with the friends that are getting them into trouble.

Something good is coming out of making an example out of these guys. It sends a message around the league to both the players and the organizations. First it tells the players to make better decision which is obvious. But it also tells the organizations that if you really want to take a fliers on the Randy Moss’s of the world there will be more consequences then before. Remember back a couple years ago when Randy Moss want out of Minnesota, it was a common theme that someone would take a chance on him, because of his great talent. Now they might think twice in the future if this big name big mouth player says that he wants out… there might not be anyone there to take him…

Scott