NEW YORK -- Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans was suspended for the 2007 season Tuesday and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals for eight games -- both for numerous violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy.
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"It is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the suspensions. "These players and all members of our league have to make the right choices and decisions in their conduct on a consistent basis."
Jones' off-field conduct has included 10 incidents where he was interviewed by police. The most recent took place in connection with the National Basketball Association's All-Star game in Las Vegas. Police there recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and shooting at a strip club paralyzed one man.
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Henry was arrested four times in a 14-month span, resulting in coach Marvin Lewis twice relegating him to the bench and a two-game league suspension. He was one of nine Bengals arrested in nine months.
Both the Titans and the Bengals said they supported the suspensions.
"While we regret the circumstances that called for it, it's good for both Chris and the Bengals to have the matter resolved," 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."
Goodell, who replaced the retired Paul Tagliabue seven months ago, also announced the new, tougher personal conduct policy that will include larger fines and longer suspensions.
The suspensions came under the current NFL policy on player conduct.
"It is important that the NFL be represented consistently by outstanding people as well as great football players, coaches and staff," Goodell said in announcing the new policy.
"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."
