It was the first test of the Roger Goodell administration, and the NFL commissioner responded by acting quickly, decisively and effectively.
I'm talking, of course, about the five-game suspension of Tennessee defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, who's out of business until Nov. 19 after he twice kicked Dallas' Andre Gurode in the head during the Cowboys' 45-14 victory Sunday.
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| New commish Roger Goodell handled his first challenge well. (US PRESSWIRE) |
That's what caused the NFL -- and Goodell -- to respond with such speed. Replays of the heinous event were shown again and again Sunday night and Monday while commentators speculated on the punishment that would be dealt out.
All agreed he should be suspended -- and that included Haynesworth, who apologized for what he described as a "disgusting" assault and said he wouldn't be surprised if it cost him time. Well, it did, with a decision reached within 24 hours.
"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," Goodell said in a statement.
He has that right. And that's why he demanded an immediate response. As someone at the league office said, it was "an unprecedented suspension for an unprecedented action."
The league hasn't had to suspend anyone for an on-the-field incident since 2002, a league spokesman said, and hasn't had to suspend anyone for more than one game for an on-the-field incident since 1986.
That's when Green Bay's Charles Martin was penalized two games for planting Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon. It was the longest suspension for an on-the-field incident in league history.
Haynesworth's penalty -- which includes a forfeiture of pay for those games -- was extraordinary because his actions were extraordinary. What he did was senseless, brutal and unforgivable. Oh, and did I mention stupid?
I heard one former player Monday saying the league should investigate the incident to determine what, if anything, was said between the two players and what, if anything, provoked Haynesworth.
Fortunately, nobody listened because none of that matters. What does matter is Albert Haynesworth responded to Gurode in a manner so far outside the boundaries of the game, it's a wonder nobody considered sitting this guy out for the season.
Maybe they did, I don't know. What I do know is that Goodell made it clear he won't tolerate thuggish behavior and that the guilty will be punished quickly and severely for actions that would have them arrested and incarcerated outside of an NFL stadium.
I don't care what was said, and I don't care who said it. All I know is how Haynesworth responded. That cannot be tolerated.
That Goodell was involved is not news. The commissioner is always involved in discussions of possible suspensions. But that he decided this one should be reconciled quickly is noteworthy. He understood people demanded a swift and just response from the league office, and he delivered it after a series of meetings concluded early Monday afternoon.
Sure, the Cowboys were upset, and they should be. So should any player, coach or fan who believes the league office means it when it talks about "the integrity of the game." And the integrity was violated. It was stomped on, beaten on and kicked in.
Albert Haynesworth could've seriously injured another player. He didn't, and for that both he and Gurode are fortunate. But he damaged the game and disgraced himself, and for that he cannot escape punishment. The hope is that by responding with speed and severity, Roger Goodell deters reckless and dangerous actions of this magnitude from happening again.
