So Where is the Suspension?
For those who missed it, Pats RB Kevin Faulk was arrested for drug possession in February. At the time, he claimed that the pot found in his jacket was not his and in Brady Bunch style he claimed he would prove it was a “friend’s” pot.
On Friday, it was announced by Faulk that he *shock* passed the drug test that he took and sent to a lab he chose without anyone else really being involved.
To which I say, “so freakin’ what?” Where is the suspension from the commish? He has made it plain that people are responsible for their conduct simply for being arrested. He has told Pac Man Jones that he’s not allowed to go to strip clubs, a legal activity, if he wants to be reinstated. If the drugs are a “friend’s” then Faulk is still hanging out with “known drug offenders.”
Now, really, I don’t think this is a suspendable offense. Personally, if Faulk wants a bit of the chronic in the offseason, that’s fine with me. But we’ve established a precendent in the NFL and I want “justice” to be meeted out fairly. If hanging with the “wrong people” is an offense, then it is an offense. I want Faulk suspended.
The only reason I can figure is that because Faulk is a Patriot, and we know the Pats avoid justice constantly for reasons unknown to everyone but the league office, Faulk gets a pass.
And let’s say that this is not conduct unbecoming an NFL player. Let’s say every player in the league would get a pass on this from the new Goodell “tough on crime” policy. Doesn’t this violate the NFL drug policy which is collectively bargained and supposedly automatic?
I have to say, the sport is too good for me to stop watching, but my faith in the league is dropping faster than Britney Spears’ panties before she gets out of a limo.
-DW
When was the last time you heard of a team losing thier #1 pick and paying the league $750,000?
I am not 100% sure that the league favors NE like that, but I do agree that Faulk should have some from of punishment. Although, I am not sure that first time offenders in the NFL really get any suspension.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm[...] Riggo’s Rag | A Washington Redskins Blog wrote an interesting post today on So Where is the Suspension?Here’s a quick excerptSo Where is the Suspension? For those who missed it, Pats RB Kevin Faulk was arrested for drug possession in February. At the time, he claimed that the pot found in his jacket was not his and in Brady Bunch style he claimed he would prove it was a “friend’s” pot. On Friday, it was announced by Faulk that he *shock* passed the drug test that he took and sent to a lab he chose without anyone else really being involved. To which I say, “so freakin’ what?” Where is the suspension from the comm [...]
April 7th, 2008 at 2:27 pmIIRC (and I could be mistaken), first time non-performance enhancing drug offenses do not result in suspensions. At least that’s what I recall from the whole Jamal Lewis incident, where the offense happened in college and he entered the league in the substance abuse program.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pmDo we even know for a fact that this is his first offense? Sometimes they cover that stuff up.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:28 pmJeff, you are correct that first offenses of non-performance enhancing drugs do not carry suspensions. However, it is generally true that once it happens it is announced that you are "in the program." This may be simply a reporting problem. It is posisble he has been entered and is taking the counseling and such mandated by the program. But I can’t find out if this is true. If it is, I don’t have a problem.
Zach, I guess the issue with the Pats team punishment is what you think they did. Personally, I think the reason the NFL destroyed all the tapes rather than simply showing them to the public is because they showed that the Pats had a long history of cheating. Otherwise, why not just show them to the press? Or at least store them? If the Pats do have a long history of taping signals including in the Super Bowl (not to mention the other accusations like messing with the QB helmets of other teams) then they got off lightly. I might be a consipracy theorist, but my feeling is that they got off very lightly.
Regardless of what you think of the Pats, there is definitely a double standard in the league when applying punishment. Why haven’t the Steelers that have been arrested for domestic battery been suspended by the league?
I can’t really pin down the motive though. I thought at first it was racially motivated, but it is clear that some african americans have gotten off easily too.. Then I thought the problem was more of an issue with the hiphop culture which seems certianly what the issue is with the new proposed hair rules. But Faulk got caught with dope at a Lil Wayne concert so that is unlikely the only factor. I thought it might a reasonable issue between violent and non-violent behavior except the Steeler’s players make that seem unlikely.
I’m starting to just think it has to do with whether you are a good player or a bad player and that stinks. Anyway, I don’t know for sure, but I’m annoyed.
-DW
April 7th, 2008 at 3:58 pmI’d advise patience. The NFL is usually slow to respond with suspensions and the like because they want to get all the facts in. It’s possible that some of the players you mentioned will be suspended or punished.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:36 pmIf it is his first arrest and his first strike in the substance abuse policy then he will not be suspended. Players get suspended for multiple arrests and/or multiple strikes against the substance abuse policy. Mike Patterson was arrested for weed too, and he will not be suspended either because this is his first offense.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pmIan, I get that on one level. But seriously, we have to remember the “friend’s drugs” part. Goodell has set a precedent that your friends matter. If you are somewhere even if it is legal and bad stuff happens around you, you are still liable.
Like I said, personally I don’t care about the weed. It means nothing to me. But if you are the NFL, you’ve got a player hanging around with drug users. And if you believe th story they are tight enough to share clothes. So Faulk is establishing that he is going places with people who in the mind of the league he shouldn’t be with. And since we’ve established that this gets you into trouble, why isn’t he in trouble?
-DW
April 7th, 2008 at 6:31 pmCommenting usually isnt my thing, but ive spent an hour on the site, so thanks for the info
March 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am