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As first announced on NFL.com, commissioner Roger Goodell has informed Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Titans and Chris Henry of the Bengals that they have been suspended without pay for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and engaging in conduct detrimental to the league on numerous occasions, the NFL announced.Jones was suspended for the 2007 season, while Henry was suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 regular season. Each player must earn the right to be reinstated.
"We must protect the integrity of the NFL," commissioner Goodell said. "The highest standards of conduct must be met by everyone in the NFL because it is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right. These players, and all members of our league, have to make the right choices and decisions in their conduct on a consistent basis."
In a letter to each player, Goodell wrote: "Your conduct has brought embarrassment and ridicule upon yourself, your club and the NFL, and has damaged the reputation of players throughout the league. You have put in jeopardy an otherwise promising NFL career, and have risked both your own safety and the safety of others through your off-field actions. In each of these respects, you have engaged in conduct detrimental to the NFL and failed to live up to the standards expected of NFL players. Taken as a whole, this conduct warrants significant sanction."
Jones, who has been interviewed by the police no fewer than 10 times since turning pro, will be strictly monitored by the Titans and the NFL during the suspension as part of his opportunity to earn reinstatement through adherence to a set of conditions.
His status will be reviewed after the Titans' 10th regular-season game to determine the extent to which he has complied with the conditions and whether the suspension should be affected by the disposition of any pending or prospective charges. ...
Henry, who was arrested four times in a 14-month span, will be reinstated after the Bengals' eighth regular-season game if he meets certain conditions during his suspension that will be monitored closely by the Bengals and the NFL. Those conditions include the following:
The Bengals said they support the suspension.
"While we regret the circumstances that called for it, it's good for both Chris and the Bengals to have the matter resolved," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "Our team will move forward, and now it is up to Chris to acquire a more mature understanding of his responsibilities as a player for the Bengals and a representative of the NFL."
For what it's worth, Dayton Daily News staff writer Chick Ludwig, in an article published Sunday, advised readers the No. 3 wide receiver will be a position battle worth watching should Henry draw a suspension -- and of course, now he has.
According to Ludwig, Tab Perry's size, Glenn Holt's speed and Antonio Chatman's quickness should combine to get the position covered until Henry returns.
Perry was placed on injured reserve with a severe right hip injury suffered against Cleveland on Sept. 17. He said he's "90 percent" healthy.
"I feel fast," he said, "but I don't feel blazing yet. ..."
Getting aback to the matter at hand. ... Jones and Henry were told that any failure to comply with these conditions will result in additional discipline, including possible banishment from the league.
"I must emphasize to you that this is your last opportunity to salvage your NFL career," Commissioner Goodell wrote to Jones and Henry. "I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you in that effort. ..."
And if the suspensions -- and that final admonition by Goodell -- weren't enough to convince Jones and Henry to fly right, maybe this will:
Again, in a statement released on their official web site, the NFL announced changes to its long-standing personal conduct policy and programs for players, coaches and other team and league employees.
The modifications focus on expanded educational and support programs in addition to increased levels of discipline for violations of the policy, Goodell said.
"It is important that the NFL be represented consistently by outstanding people as well as great football players, coaches and staff," Goodell said. "We hold ourselves to higher standards of responsible conduct because of what it means to be part of the National Football League. We have long had policies and programs designed to encourage responsible behavior, and this policy is a further step in ensuring that everyone who is part of the NFL meets that standard. We will continue to review the policy and modify it as warranted."
Added NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw: "The NFL Players Association and the Player Advisory Council have been discussing this issue for several months. We believe that these are steps that the commissioner needs to take and we support the policy. It is important that players in violation of the policy will have the opportunity and the support to change their conduct and earn their way back."
The rank and file also seem to be on board.
"You would think it's necessary just because of the negative publicity the NFL is beginning to receive because of what's happening," said Henry's teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, one of the players at the February meeting. "It was going on for an extended period of time.
"Each day, each week, something was happening."
Added Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer: "I think it will (help). With all of the things that have been happening recently, I think it will be good and hopefully give the league a little better image. I hope that it works and that guys abide by the rules and do what's right."
Details of the policy -- as outlined by the NFL -- include:
Education
Discipline
Two things jump out at me upon initial review.
First would be the wisdom of holding team and league employees to a higher standard than the players. It's hard to argue with a component that eliminates the possibility of "pot calling the kettle black" complaints from players facing disciplinary actions.
Tony Dungy told the Associated Press that placing responsibility on the teams for their players and employees makes sense, even if it results in penalties that affect more than the wallet.
"That seems to be the thing that gets everyone's attention," the coach of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts said of potentially lost draft picks and player availability. "We talked about fines at the league meetings and that may not do the trick.
"But when you start talking about playing time and draft picks, that seems to get your attention."
No doubt. ...
Second -- and of greater importance -- is the note about repeat offenders being dealt with aggressively -- which is certainly something Henry and Jones need to pay special attention to.
Even more interesting, in the same paragraph, is the line indicating those repeat offenders will be disciplined "even when the conduct itself has not yet resulted in a conviction of a crime."
In other words, there will be no more waiting around for court proceedings to come to a conclusion. Which sounds to me, very much like guys who have been in trouble might want to think twice before hanging out in a gentlemen's club or running with the wrong crowd in the wee hours of the morning. ...
Or just about anything else Goodell doesn't deem appropriate.
In other words, there's a new sheriff in town. His name is Roger Goodell and he appears to be dead set on eliminating the negative perceptions created when players behave badly.
So, if Upshaw, front offices, coaches and players are all truly on board as "deputies" on this deal -- and the comments above suggest that's the case, Goodell just might make some headway.