Haynesworth Gets 5 Games

[MikeD]

I think it should have been the rest of the season (at a minimum)...and I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm a Cowboys fan. It was a sick play that could have seriously injured a defenseless individual...how much worse could it have been?


The NFL handed down an unprecedented five-game suspension on Monday to Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for kicking Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the head.

That length of suspension represents the biggest on-field disciplinary action in league history. Charles Martin held the previous high for a suspension, sitting two games for his bodyslam of Bears quarterback Jim McMahon on Nov. 23, 1986.

"This is an unprecedented suspension. I feel like his actions on the field were also unprecented," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.
The coach indicated that Haynesworth would not appeal the decision.

"I felt there needed to be some serious action taken from a discipline standpoint, and I think what the league has done now is adequate," he said.

The suspension will cost Haynesworth $190,070 -- $38,014 per game -- which adds up to five-seventeenths of his 2006 base salary of $646,251.

"I think five games, five paychecks is substantial," Fisher said.

The suspension takes effect immediately. Haynesworth can return on Nov. 19 for the Titans' game at Philadelphia.

"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

Haynesworth was contrite after the incident.

"I apologize to Andre," he said Sunday. "What I did was disgusting. It's something that should never happen. I mean, I'm not a dirty player. I don't play dirty. I have respect for the game. What I feel like is I disgraced the game, disgraced my team and disgraced my last name."

Julius Jones had just scored on a 5-yard run, putting Dallas up 20-6 in what wound up as a 45-14 victory. Gurode's helmet came off, and Haynesworth, standing over him, used his right foot to kick Gurode in the head.

Gurode said they hadn't been talking or having any exchanges that led to Haynesworth kicking him twice. He received stitches above his forehead and beneath his eye.

"In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode said.

A flag was thrown, and Haynesworth followed an official toward the Titans' sideline, protesting.

Haynesworth pulled off his helmet and slammed it to the ground, prompting another flag. Referee Jerome Boger disqualified Haynesworth, and the player walked off the field after talking briefly with Fisher.

"It's ridiculous to get to that point. Two back-to-back penalties like that, there's no place for it," Fisher said.

Gurode didn't play the rest of the second half.

"This vision was kind of blurry in my left eye," he said. "If it was clear, I would have tried to come back in to play."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2610577

And an interesting view from ProFootballTalk. Reasonable arguement here...


Think about it. If you stand up right now and go over to the guy who makes that weird sound when he sips his coffee, throw him to the ground, and jam your shoe repeatedly on his face until he has a 30-stitch gash, your ass would be fired before they even start cleaning the blood off of the carpet.

So why should Haynesworth get a pass? Violence is violence. "Losing it" on a football field is no different than "losing it" in a factory. And if a guy loses it in that manner, he should lose his job -- just like your or I would.

He also should go to jail. Just like you or I would.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[ray]

He should have been handed a suspension for the rest of the season. No class.

[Maarchk]

I'm pretty sure sports in violence is treated differently. The nhl incident with the guy decking someone else and breaking his neck? back? season long suspension and yet the victim will never play again... Sports definitey lives by its own laws.

[MrGreg]

We need a voting option for "criminal charges"

[Memo]

I'd have banned him from the NFL.

[bachviet]

2-5 games

[mcs328]

season ban at a minimum with criminal charges at the victims discretion.

[MikeD]

season ban at a minimum with criminal charges at the victims discretion.

:stupid:

Folks, we have a winner...

[VTGreg]

I think the suspension could have been a few games longer but it is the longest suspension in the history of the NFL for an on-the-field incident. Roger Goodell said that Haynesworth's comments after the game played a part in reducing the suspension.

I agree that violence in sports must be treated differently from violence in society. Many things that happen on a football field would be crimes in the course of day to day life. If criminal charges were allowed in this instance, what's to stop someone from charging a player that spears another player or goes headhunting. A very slippery slope...

[mcs328]

I think the suspension could have been a few games longer but it is the longest suspension in the history of the NFL for an on-the-field incident. Roger Goodell said that Haynesworth's comments after the game played a part in reducing the suspension.

I agree that violence in sports must be treated differently from violence in society. Many things that happen on a football field would be crimes in the course of day to day life. If criminal charges were allowed in this instance, what's to stop someone from charging a player that spears another player or goes headhunting. A very slippery slope...

I think when you play sports, there's a certain expectation that you'll get hurt as a result/nature of the sport. I would think and I might be wrong in this, that it should be in the contract that players can not press charges or seek damages from injuries as a result from playing by the rules of the game. I think stomping on someones head without a helmet in this case was not incendental contact and not part of or inherently part of the game.

[Prngr44]

I think when you play sports, there's a certain expectation that you'll get hurt as a result/nature of the sport. I would think and I might be wrong in this, that it should be in the contract that players can not press charges or seek damages from injuries as a result from playing by the rules of the game. I think stomping on someones head without a helmet in this case was not incendental contact and not part of or inherently part of the game.

There's the "code" that basically says you won't sue someone or press charges for things that happen in the normal course of the game.

Like someone earlier mentioned with the NHL, the NHL ruled that what Todd Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore was 'outside the spirit of the game' and therefore opened the doors to charges/lawsuit.

I think think incident falls into that category. You don't stomp on someone's face. Period. He wasn't even remorseful after it happened.. he bitched at the ref for throwing the flag and got ANOTHER penalty.

[ryan_self]

I'd have banned him from the NFL.

Well, he can lose his job, meaning the Titans could cut him, but banning him from the league isn't necessarily allowed under the players agreement. Each of 32 teams is a separate business, in the same field.

That being said, I comemend the NFL for coming down strong. If the Cowboys player had been blinded, he'd have a nice little lawsuit on his hands against the NFL for lost future earnings potential.

[Jeffbx]

Lifetime ban - no question.

As long as players are able to get away with crap like this they will. And yes, I consider a 5 game suspension getting away with it.

[ryan_self]

Lifetime ban - no question.

As long as players are able to get away with crap like this they will. And yes, I consider a 5 game suspension getting away with it.

I work in the trade writing field. If I walk over to a coworker's desk right now and, in the heat of an argument, push him over in his chair and kick him in the head, should I be fired? Of course. Arrested? Yep.

But never allowed to work in the field again?

[RIVERWIDOW]

He's a thug and that's the way they should treat him. I hope the other guy presses charges. 5 games isn't long enough by a long shot. WHOLE SEASON time out for him is the only fair thing. NFL hieracy are a bunch of pusses worried about what the players union will do .

[johnnymk]

What about hockey?

Talk about a sick violent sport!!

Eh, I really don't think it should be called a sport, because those guys are definitely not sportsmanlike in the least.

[Prngr44]

What about hockey?

Talk about a sick violent sport!!

Eh, I really don't think it should be called a sport, because those guys are definitely not sportsmanlike in the least.

A sick violent sport? What hockey are you watching? Aside from the occasional fight there's really not much violence going on.

I'd also go out on the limb and say that hockey players are the most in-shape athletes of all pro sports and that hockey is probably the most rigorous sport of them all.

If you want a more violent sport... think rugby. That's pretty rough.

[MikeD]

I'd also go out on the limb and say that hockey players are the most in-shape athletes of all pro sports and that hockey is probably the most rigorous sport of them all.

Ehh, I'd have to say soccer instead of hockey. You could also make a case for cycling...

[johnnymk]

A sick violent sport? What hockey are you watching? Aside from the occasional fight there's really not much violence going on.

I'd also go out on the limb and say that hockey players are the most in-shape athletes of all pro sports and that hockey is probably the most rigorous sport of them all.

If you want a more violent sport... think rugby. That's pretty rough.

I really don't watch it that much. The only time I see it is when I'm in a sports bar and one of the TV's has a hockey game on. It appears that there is always a brawl going on, but maybe I am just seeing the highlights.

It really looks violent to me.

[Prngr44]

MikeD - Soccer did run through my mind just because of the running involved (typically miles per player per match.)

Johnny- You're probably right. Most folks who aren't fans of hockey usually think it's nothing but violence but it really only represents a small part of play.

[MikeD]

MikeD - Soccer did run through my mind just because of the running involved (typically miles per player per match.)

That's cool. I thought about baseball, too...but wasn't too sure. :hihi:

[Jeffbx]

I work in the trade writing field. If I walk over to a coworker's desk right now and, in the heat of an argument, push him over in his chair and kick him in the head, should I be fired? Of course. Arrested? Yep.

But never allowed to work in the field again?

Slightly different circumstances. In your instance, law enforcement is involved. You'll likely be fired from your job, might get sued, etc. That is your punishment.

In pro sports, law enforcement is not involved in these situations (should they be? I think so). They are handled internally, and he essentially got a slap on the wrist. There is no deterrent to this violent behavior. I think the risk of a permanent ban would be a GREAT deterrent.

Let's look at some slightly different fields - like medicine. If you endanger people doing that, you can get your license yanked. Practicing law - gross miscounduct is grounds for disbarrment. Armed services? They'll boot you out in a second for attacking your peers. All of these can be considered lifetime bans - I don't see why pro sports should be any different.

[Markel]

Johnny- You're probably right. Most folks who aren't fans of hockey usually think it's nothing but violence but it really only represents a small part of play.
I realize that the fighting "represents a small part of play", but what bothers me is that the fighting is an accepted part of the the play. In football, basketball, baseball, and about any other major sport, if the players were as quick to start throwing punches as are hockey players, there would soon be no players left on the field/court.

[ryan_self]

Slightly different circumstances. In your instance, law enforcement is involved. You'll likely be fired from your job, might get sued, etc. That is your punishment.

In pro sports, law enforcement is not involved in these situations (should they be? I think so). They are handled internally, and he essentially got a slap on the wrist. There is no deterrent to this violent behavior. I think the risk of a permanent ban would be a GREAT deterrent.

Let's look at some slightly different fields - like medicine. If you endanger people doing that, you can get your license yanked. Practicing law - gross miscounduct is grounds for disbarrment. Armed services? They'll boot you out in a second for attacking your peers. All of these can be considered lifetime bans - I don't see why pro sports should be any different

.

I see your point, but the threat of law enforcement is not superceded by the NFL action. The player still has the right to press charges, and as I understand he is currently doing so.

However, claiming that a 5-game suspension is no deterrent is not correct. Not only does the player lose his salary (and remember, NFL salaries are not guaranteed, and a player's career is much shorter than MLB/NBA - this lost money is not just more to "throw on the pile," it's real money) he also loses endorsement opportunities. Now, it might seem like few defensive tackles make much in endorsements, but we don't see all the local endorsements these players gain. Haynesworth is one of few star players on a rebuilding Titans team, and stands to lose a great deal if local advertisers consider him untouchable.

I was EXTREMELY impressed with the NFL's action...can you imagine what a baseball player would have to do to get suspended for 50 games?

[ryan_self]

If you want a more violent sport... think rugby. That's pretty rough.


As a former rugby player, I can somewhat dispel this myth. The game does see some horrific injuries, but less of the "day-to-day" injuries you see in football, simply because full-speed collisions are extremely rare in rugby.

[johnnymk]

Let's look at some slightly different fields - like medicine. If you endanger people doing that, you can get your license yanked. Practicing law - gross miscounduct is grounds for disbarrment. Armed services? They'll boot you out in a second for attacking your peers. All of these can be considered lifetime bans - I don't see why pro sports should be any different.


BTW, have any priests gone to jail for molesting children?

[Jeffbx]

BTW, have any priests gone to jail for molesting children?

Heh, funny I was thinking of the same thing while I was writing that. Sometimes self regulation is not enough.

[Memo]

I work in the trade writing field. If I walk over to a coworker's desk right now and, in the heat of an argument, push him over in his chair and kick him in the head, should I be fired? Of course. Arrested? Yep.

But never allowed to work in the field again?

You're right, banning him from ever playing again would probaly be overboard. I still think 5 games is not much of a punishment. So he doesn't get to buy THIS years latest Mercedes S600. It's just a slap on the wrist.

[Sirrich3]

Needed to be a ban for the season!