Roger Goodell's Uneven Hand - Pacman Jones' suspension
When news broke a couple weeks back that Dallas Cowboys Corner Back Adam 'Pacman' Jones got in a scuffle with...one of his own security guards I was slightly confused, and unfortunately not that surprised.But when news broke that NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell just suspended Adam Jones for at least four games, I was shocked.First off, isn't the Dallas Cowboys' hired security guard supposed to prevent Jones from getting into situations like this? That's this guy's job, protect Adam Jones, not fight him. Second, where were Jones' teammates during this? They were at a hotel, they had hired bodyguards, they were 'allegedly drunk,' which means hammered. Pacman was the only guy getting rowdy? Come on. Third, where's the arrest? Jones clearly was not acting in the most decent of manners. But how many of his peers were? This isn't the best argument, but it's a valid one: How many professional athletes get drunk, out of hand, and have the cops called on them every week? We'll never know. But search online for nearly any prominent young athlete and there's pictures of them getting sloppy at the bars. Is Adam Jones a model upstanding citizen? Not from what I've seen. Is he a convicted felon and "what's wrong with the NFL?" Not entirely, there are a number of people "just as bad" as him, if not worse. Is Commissioner Goodell making an example out of Jones, because he's an easy target and the media loves to flash those mug shots of him chewing on plastic? I'm leaning towards yes.Why not deal with serious problems, like Indiannapolis Colts Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison (not suspended) who is linked, but not convicted of a shooting outside his bar, with his gun, with a guy he was quarreling with earlier in the night?Mr. Goodell, the powerful ruling hand has to act evenly.





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