Judge Goodell continues to hammer out his own justice
This is not a man to be messed with.
Hello. My name is Roger Goodell. And this is my league.
Goodell continues to do what other sports commissioner won’t — and that’s not merely fix his own league’s problems but attempt to clean up all that he sees is wrong with the world. In the NFL, Goodell trumps the American judicial system. This includes Florida judges who hand out 30-day jail sentences for drunk drivers who run over jaywalkers.
Loading ...Goodell, the sports world’s hanging judge, today suspended Cleveland wide receiver Donte Stallworth without pay for the entire NFL season. The decision wasn’t surprising, especially given the backdrop of other punishments doled out by the commissioner. Most recently, he extended Michael Vick’s suspension beyond even his jail term. I’m guessing he’ll soon tell Plaxico Burress to accept a one-year suspension or shoot himself in the other leg — his choice.
“I don’t have a problem with the Stallworth suspension, although I understand the arguments on both sides. But this much is certain: Goodell continues to see every case as how it might damage the NFL shield. If you doubt that, consider these excerpts from his letter to Stallworth:
“In my view, the essential facts are that you had alcohol in your system well above the legal limit, made a conscious decision to drive, and struck and killed a man. … Legal arguments that focus on criminal liability under Florida law do not diminish that damage or your responsibility for your conduct. … The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”
Nobody doubts that Stallworth feels genuine remorse. His words and actions (most of them) have suggested as much. But it was clear from his recent comments on Twitter that the suspension caught him by surprise.
Some recent “Tweets” from @D_Stallworth18:
(Pre-suspension . . .)
♦ 3 a.m.: NIGHT YALL…. PRAY FOR YA BOY PLZ… I CAN FEEL IT IN THE AIR!! KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED… TOES TOO (eeeeewww) GOD BLESS
♦ 9 a.m.: GOOD MORNING TWITTERVERSE!!! THANKS FOR YALL PRAYERS & SUPPORT, I APPRECIATE IT.
(Post suspension . . .)
♦ Noon: TO ALL MY FAM IN THE LEAGUE: GOD BLESS YALL, STAY HEALTHY, GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON!!! I’M WATCHIN EVERY DAMN GAME. (an earlier version with a more profane word than “damn” was deleted).
♦ Noon: “I’M A LITTLE WOUNDED, BUT I’M NOT SLAIN; I WILL LAY ME DOWN 4A WHILE 2 BLEED, THEN I’LL RISE & FIGHT WITH YOU AGAIN” -John Dryden. (For the uninitiated: Dryden was an English poet in the 1600s).
♦ Noon: btw… i DO NOT have a facebook… i repeat, i DO NOT have facebook!!!!! THAT IS NOT ME…LOL
He probably could’ve set the record straight on the phony Facebook page without adding the “LOL.”
So what do you think? Is Goodell overstepping his bounds as a commissioner or is he acting appropriately? Weigh in.
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85 comments Add your comment
Art Vandelay
August 13th, 2009
2:14 pm
He acted completely appropriately. If the courts in Florida are so hamstrung as to be unable to lock this man up for an appropriate sentence, then Goodell has every right to impose a professional sanction against him. If I went out and killed someone while driving drunk, I’d probably a) be locked up for several years and b) be fired from my job immediately. There’s no need to reward Stallworth for his behavior by allowing him to play pro football for millions of dollars.
Billy
August 13th, 2009
2:15 pm
And it’s his right as commissioner. Maybe you should quit complaining and accept it. If the union doesn’t like it, they can deal with it in the next agreement. I’m getting so tired of whiny columnists. If he was a “hanging judge”, as you suggest, he would ban them forever, like Landis in MLB. To my knowledge, he has yet to do that to ANYONE, including your favorite poster child for Goodell’s “excesses,” Michael Vick.
Mac
August 13th, 2009
2:16 pm
LOL. He’s doing the right thing IMHO. Tho all this 14-year-old-esque twitter/blog speak does not have me ROFLMAO.
MightyQuinn
August 13th, 2009
2:17 pm
Well, its his league and the NFLPA is a toothless patsy, so he can do whatever the h*ll he wants, until he does something to P.O. Congress, anyway. Sports commisioners do need something like the old version of the Baseball commisioners, i.e. do anything thats in the best interest of the game. And how long till the first reference to MV7?
ITP Brave
August 13th, 2009
2:17 pm
I like it. It sends the message that if you want the privilege (read: not a right) of playing a game for millions of dollars a year, stay out of trouble. Don’t drink/use drugs and drive, don’t get into dog fighting, and don’t carry an illegal handgun with you to the club.
The NFL is the best business model for sports going today, and Goodell is doing the right thing by making sure that its image stays clean in the eyes of the public. Good for him.
What's Important
August 13th, 2009
2:18 pm
I believe Commissioner is doing what it takes to clean up the league. Apparently NFL players don’t understand rules unless they are written in braille on the head of a hammer. Once players start acting like they are listening and clean up their acts, then we won’t have to be discussing which player is in front of what judge for doing whatever.
Mac
August 13th, 2009
2:18 pm
Oh and on previous topic, the Braves should sign Laroche to a long-term deal and see what other positions Freddie Freeman can play.
MightyQuinn
August 13th, 2009
2:18 pm
Ooops, too late on the Vick reference!
Otto
August 13th, 2009
2:24 pm
Art chances are you would be sentenced much the same if you did not run from the scene of the crime. But, you are correct most likley you would be fired. If convicted of a felony IMO you should be banned from the NFL. Goodell and other commissioners are entirely far to soft.
Barry Hardy
August 13th, 2009
2:24 pm
Damn good thing obama isn’t a football fan.
Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"
August 13th, 2009
2:28 pm
Wow. Four things I never thought I’d see together: Football + Vehicular Manslaughter + 16th century English Poetry + Twitter
Stevengilley15
August 13th, 2009
2:29 pm
Roger Goodell made the right choice in this case but overall, he has too much power and someone needs to pull him down from his dictatorial stature. No one man should have the power to judge players on his own terms. I mean I understand wanting to clean the league up but playing GOD is not his job. The union should definitely step in and do something about this. There is a reason we have a system of checks and balances and he is not being checked, he is simply hammering down. Since you mentioned Vick in the poll, I think his decision with Vick is WRONG and unfair since Vick actually did hard time and was suspended indefinitely from the league before he was even convicted or officially charged. I never did like Goodell and now I know why. No league is going to be perfect and free from players getting into trouble. Also, he shouldnt force players to try and be role models or upstanding citizens to get back into the league. You should obey the law, if not and you get into trouble you should pay your time. You don’t have to be remorseful or angelic to get back into society. Thats not how the law is. You pay your time. Thats the punishment..Not being sorry.
Brian
August 13th, 2009
2:33 pm
Suspend him another 6 games for not knowing how to use his CAPS LOCK KEY.
jarvis
August 13th, 2009
2:34 pm
The NFLPA is so weak.
Ray
August 13th, 2009
2:35 pm
I applaud Goodell for stepping up and trying to keep the league repectable. It is not like professional atheletes are the only people held accountable professionally for their criminal acts. There are many people who will lose their job if they are convicted of a crime.
Stevengilley15
August 13th, 2009
2:41 pm
He only doing for public image though Ray. And most people are at risk for losing their jobs just for being accused which is even worse. All it takes is for some girl to say I raped her and get some hoopla from the media and my career is over. smh
Ed-Covington
August 13th, 2009
2:50 pm
ESPN earlier (I believe it was Steven Smith) stated that Stallworth was surprised by the suspension, saying that he had pled guilty to avoid the embarassment the NFL would have suffered through a court trial. So since he pled guilty to save the embarassment for the NFL then the league “owed him”! Remember all of you Vick-Stallworth defenders: Pete Rose NEVER committed a crime, never served A DAY in prison/jail; yet he was banned from baseball FOR LIFE! (A LONG TIME!) How you can equate jail time to suspension length is beyond me. Part of the reason pros are paid so much is that they sign contracts with clauses that preclude behavior which will subject the team/league to undue scrutiny. Running over potential fans (customers) while drunk might fall within that realm.
FreeMikeVick
August 13th, 2009
2:50 pm
If this was white Ben Rothlisberger, he would not have been suspended. Black Donte Stalworth gets a year…..How is this fair?
Stevengilley15
August 13th, 2009
2:56 pm
LOL ^^^^
Here is Stephen A. Smith’s podcast on this issue
Stallworth deserved to be suspended a year! He drove drunk and he killed a human being.
http://stephena.com/?p=269
midnite
August 13th, 2009
2:56 pm
I am not surprised at the one year suspension. I was more shocked by the deceased mans family accepting the big monetary pay-out and less concerned about seeking justice for their loved one. At least Stallworth did stop and call 911.
jarvis
August 13th, 2009
2:56 pm
Who did Big-Ben run over?
Jeff Schultz
August 13th, 2009
3:08 pm
Evil Richt – A fine observation, young man.
Brian – imagine how many commenters I’d have to suspend if CAPS LOCKED was a factor?
MiltonDawg
August 13th, 2009
3:08 pm
And we wonder why kids and teenagers do not know how to speak proper English? Go back and listen to interviews with Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Singletary, E.Smith and Cris Carter…they all speak normal and are great role models for kids. I think i became stupider just by reading his Twitter page.
MiltonDawg
August 13th, 2009
3:10 pm
midnite- he must’ve had great lawyers or the family didnt care and was more excited to get paid. What a shame. Got to love the justice system.
What's Important
August 13th, 2009
3:10 pm
Free Mike Vick: Ben Rothlisberger has been sued in civil court for money damages. He has not been charged with any crime. For example, I could file a civil suit against “Free Mike Vick” alleging that he is an illiterate jacka** who equates everything to race. Does that make it true?
Ed-Covington
August 13th, 2009
3:18 pm
Steven A. Smith is kissing Stallworth’s a$$ on ESPN right now. SAS: What do you say to “those people” who think you got off too light?” Hey, SAS. are you saying you are NOT one of ” those people”?
Ed-Covington
August 13th, 2009
3:20 pm
Sorry; that was Michael Smith on ESPN.
Ted Striker
August 13th, 2009
3:24 pm
I’m fine with the suspension, although I have this to say about Goodell:
He seems like the guy who inquire of trick-or-treaters whether or not they’d been good before handing them a “treat” — a mini-code-of-conduct book for kids.
Ray
August 13th, 2009
3:24 pm
FreeMikeVick….you want to know what is not fair. Getting ran over by a drunk millionaire who in turn only gets a slap on the wrist for killing you.
FreeMikeVickAt
August 13th, 2009
3:27 pm
At least he wasn’t beating up a hooker.
Ed-Covington
August 13th, 2009
3:32 pm
Sorry; that was Michael Smith on ESPN interviewing Stallworth. My apologies to Steven A. Smith.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
August 13th, 2009
3:38 pm
I just heard Vick signed with the Carolina Panthers
FALCONS SORRY
August 13th, 2009
3:40 pm
JEFF SCHULZ,
YOU NO FOOL WELL THAT GOODDELL IS TRYING TO MAKE THE NFL LILY WHITE!BEN ROTHLISSBURGER GOT NO SUSPENSION FOR RAPPING THAT GIRL! THEN THAT GUY IN MIAMI RAN OUT IN FRONT OF DONTE STALLWORTH CAR AND EVERYBODY WANT TO BLAME DONTE STALLWORTH BUT THEN THAT LOWDOWN AUTHUR BLANK CAN SEE WHAT
A MISTEAK HE HAVE MAD AND HELL BEG MICHAEL VICK TO COME SAFE THE FALCONSBUT ITS TOO LATE CAUSE VICK WILL CHOOSE HIS TEAM AND LEAD IT TO THE PROMISE LAND!VICKS NEW TEAM WILL WIN THE SUPPER BOWL WHILE AUTHUR BLANK CRY ABOUT THE LOOSER HE STUCK WITH MATTY ICE!!
Peadawg
August 13th, 2009
3:40 pm
“For example, I could file a civil suit against “Free Mike Vick” alleging that he is an illiterate jacka** who equates everything to race. Does that make it true?”
In FMV’s case, it is true.
Peadawg
August 13th, 2009
3:44 pm
FALCONS SORRY, let me guess…you think O.J. and Michael Jackson are both innocent, don’t you?
YUP!!
August 13th, 2009
3:44 pm
Layoff Stallworth…..it aint like he killed a dog or something!
FALCONS SORRY
August 13th, 2009
3:45 pm
ROGER NO GOODELL! ALL YOUR HOLY MAN TALKE AND ACT MAKE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH! YOU ACT LIKE YOU KING OF THE WHOLE WORLD AND TRY TO DICKTATE HOW EVERBODY IS SUPPOSED TO ACT AND TALK AND THINK AND BE JUST LIKE YOU! MIKE VICK AINT ONE OF YOUR LILLY WHITE MACHINES! HE IS A MAN! AND YOU WILL TREAT HIM LIKE A MAN AND SHOW HIM SOME PROPPER RESPECT FOR ALL THAT MONEY THAT HE MAKE YOU AND THE NFL THAT ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR JOB! HERE YOU ARE TALKING ALL BIG AND TAKING AWAY PEOPLE CAREERS THEY DO TO EARN A LIVING TO FEED THEY FAMILIES AND TAKE CARE OF THEY KIDS! I BET YOU PROBABLY WANT TO SEE VICKS KIDS STARVE ROGER NO GOODELL! YOU AND AUTHUR BLANK WANT TO RULE THE WORLD TOGETHER AND SEE GOOD MEN LIKE VICK WHO MAKE A LITTLE MISTAKE LOCKED UP IN SHACKLES AND CHAINS LIKE YOU THINK MEN LIKE THEM BELONG! YOUR DAY IS COMING ROGER NO GOODELL!
chitown
August 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
I don’t see why Stallworth was not suspended for 2-3 years. In essence, Vick was unable to make a paycheck in the NFL for 2.5 years with his jail time and suspension for killing dogs and racketeering. Stallworth, who killed a human being in a drunk driving accident, will only be without a paycheck for 1 years time. If the NFL wants to subject its employees to essentially it’s own law outside the US judicial system, then maybe Godell needs to get his morals straight and punish more severely an individual who took another man’s life over a man who funded a dog fighting circuit and killed animals. These crimes are both bad, but Stallworth killed another person, not a dog.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
Ed Covington
Pete Rose was sentenced to 5 months for Income Tax evasion.
Blue Fender
August 13th, 2009
3:55 pm
Ed-Covington
Pete Rose did go to jail for tax evasion. The case was linked to his gambling if I remember correctly. According to his testimony he only bet that his team would win, but it’s clearly stated in the baseball bible of rules that no gambling is allowed. You do the crime, you do the time.
What's Important
August 13th, 2009
3:56 pm
Chitown: Once again, Stallworth did not get into his car and go out looking for someone to run down. In addition there was something called contributory negligence by the gentlemen who was jaywalking. I think Stallworth should have gotten more time, but the justice system determined that providing for the man’s child financially was more important. What you don’t seem to understand is that there is such a thing as an “accident”, even though he was driving impaired, it was not his intent to kill someone. When you commit the same illegal act over a period of six years, then its not an “accident,” a “mistake” or “listening to someone who doesn’t have my best interests at heart.” You are doing it because you like it. That’s the difference between the two. The only way you could equate the two is if Stallworth bought a freeway and bred people to try and run down every day, and if they don’t run fast enough, electrocute, shoot or strangle them.
FreeMikeVick
August 13th, 2009
3:59 pm
Hey Peadawg….You want some of this? Anyplace, any time son.
Peadawg
August 13th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hey FMV, why don’t you just go be somebody’s baby daddy
FreeMikeVick
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
You talk tough hillbilly. Are you this tough in person?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 13th, 2009
4:11 pm
Can he go back a suspend Ray Lewis, that way we can have some justice for a murder in Buckhead. It looks like a one year suspenion for murder is about right.
collegeballfan
August 13th, 2009
4:14 pm
“In my view, the essential facts are that you had alcohol in your system well above the legal limit, made a conscious decision to drive, and struck and killed a man. … Legal arguments that focus on criminal liability under Florida law do not diminish that damage or your responsibility for your conduct. … The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”
Change the words to breaking Federal law on dog fighting, conspiracy etc
and this same statement fits Mike Vick like a glove.
If the glove fits, you must suspend. (yeah. I know).
Art Vandelay
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
Blue Fender, I thought Rose’s tax evasion charges were due to failure to report income from memorabilia shows…I don’t recall them having anything to do with his gambling. That said, I’m too lazy right now to bother Googling it, so you may be right.
brewdawg
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
Sweet! 45 comments and already the blog has degenerated to a race column. We’ve come so far as a society that my heart bursts.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
The difference in Vick’s crime and Stallworth’s crime is this. Vick ticked off PETA which is a big headache for the NFL, therefore a longer suspension where as there is no special interest group to take up for this guy that got ran over including his family who took a payoff from Stallworth. Now if MADD had got involved and threatened the NFL, you would have seen a tougher suspension.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 13th, 2009
4:22 pm
Art V., you are correct and you are a heck of a laytex salesman/importer/exporter