Give It Up Goodell

The Andre Johnson/Cortland Finnegan fight had more action, landed punches, and less clinching than the Andre Ward fight; it also got more coverage on the Red Zone channel than Dwayne Bowe and Peyton Hillis combined. You had to assume that a suspension was coming for both since they have more bad blood between them than Paris Hilton and Snooki, and a history of fines when playing each other. Andre Johnson souded like he realized a suspension was forthcoming with post-game comments where he apologized to his team and stated that he would accept the punishment that came with his actions.

This seemed like perfect opportunity for NFL czar Roger Goodell to lay down the law and prevent any further incidents since these two meet again on December 19th. Instead Goodell fined both $25,000 (.4% of Johnson's salary, .9% of Finnegan's) and is going to allow them both to play this week, in a decision that is more questionable than the Panthers starting Brian St. Pierre or greenlighting a movie with "The Rock" in the leading role. The decision not to suspend these two screams out inconsistency on the level of Dirk Nowitzki's hairstyles, especially when Goodell has peddled the mantra of personal conduct more than a politician seeking re-election. So we are to assume that actions that would have got Johnson arrested on the street or in a bar and definitely suspended are not suspend-able actions when they occur on the field?

Give it up already Goodell, as we know he isn't adverse to changing the rules in the middle of the season like he did for "helmet to helmet" hits, so if he wants to institute NHL like fighting I am all for it, but you have to give the other guy a chance. No one dislikes New York Ranger Sean Avery more than I do, but even I would allow him to punch back when a guy drops the gloves with him and both players know what they are in for.

Not suspending Johnson because he and the Texans play on Thursday on the "NFL" Network (aka the Goodell channel) is a blatant move that puts the NFL on a slippery slope sliding to Vince McMahon territory.

As for the "helmet to helmet" hits I see the player safety side, but when you change the rules in the middle of the season and change the fabric of the game for defensive players, fines of $50,000 to $100,000 and suspensions without giving players an off-season seems far too harsh, when incidents like this on field assualt are given a wrist slap. While Goodell is changing rules mid-season, how about taking away the NFC West playoff spot and enforcing offensive pass interference? I assumed Richard Seymour would be suspended after punching Ben Roethlisberger the week before, but on second thought who didn't want to see Roethlisberger get punched, besides every woman in the world. On a side note Roethlisberger's teammates non-reaction to Seymour's punch showed me all I needed to know about that team and how Roethlisberger is thought of in the locker room. Can you imagine the "Kyle Turley" like like reaction that would have ensued if Seymour did that to Brees, Brady, or even Fitzpatrick or Troy Smith.




Those teams would have would have cleared their benches in support of their QB's, but that is the rub, those teammates actually like their QB's. Fans can justify anything and it is easy to say you support guys to the media, but true feelings are revealed in a situation like the Seymour punch. Goodell also didn't want Seymour coming out after the punch and proclaiming that he did it for women everywhere, as he is much more interested in adding games to the schedule which seems in stark contrast to a commish who champions player safety? His decisions leave me with more a headache than a guy who took a helmet to helmet blow from James Harrison or Asante Samuel.