NJ Shore douche should be suspended for sure. This is too many times he is starting stuff. I think this is his 3rd incident just this year, and he has a made a career on being a general turd.
I think two things will work in AJs favor. One being that he is AJ and has a very clean record. Two being the opponent was Finnegan. If it was McCourty or someone else, I think Goodell might be harsher on AJ.
Not to mention, he threw the first punch, AFTER he initiated the melee. His punch just isn't getting the attention, because he didn't land it, and Andre's helmet was on. I rewatched the fight, in slow motion. When Finnegan's helmet came off, Andre held it, like he was surprised it came off. Andre's helmet was knocked loose with Finnegan's initial shove to the face off the snap of the ball. Finnegan grabs Andre's helmet, after he took a poorly attempted swing at him, it comes off, and Finnegan throws it down the field, clearly showing his intention of taking Andre's helmet off. Since Finnegan had already swung at Andre, by taking his helmet off, you can only assume that dirty little douche's intentions were so that he could hit Andre without his helmet on. In his own defense, Andre swings at Finnegan, and connects. Andre, being much larger, wins the fight, by and large. Because of Andre landing the punches, he looks to be the worse aggressor of the two. In actuality, Finnegan initiated the fight (and on the play before, Andre gave Finnegan some legal shoves, and Finnegan went directly to Andre's face, prompting Andre to push him in the back...the two personal fouls should have been called here, and it would have probably stopped the melee). Finnegan threw the first "punch," Finnegan has the history of being a dirty player and fighting. Andre has a reputation that is free of any blemishes, and let the league's biggest douche bag get under his skin. That was Andre's mistake. In all honesty, though, there is a huge argument that Andre was acting in self defense. He didn't have to throw a punch, but that had already been done. Like I said, because Andre dominated the fracas, and Andre is bigger, and ultimately, because Cortland Finnegan is a walking vagina, people who don't review the video closely, think that Andre is the party at most fault. Any suspension that is handed down, should and better involve Finnegan getting the heftier penalty because of his history. The homer side of me says that fair is Andre getting a 50K fine, and Cortland getting a 75K fine. The realist side says they both get a one game suspension and a 50k fine. Edit: Finnegan has already been fined twice this year for fighting, with word coming from the front office that any further fighting would cause escalating disciplines. Because of this, and the new reports that he indicated he was going to try to start something with Andre immediately before the fight, I think Finnegan gets AT LEAST a three game suspension, and a hefty fine. I wouldn't be happy with anything less than 100k.
Just a fine. When was the last time a player in the NFL got suspended for fighting? Especially for their first offense? It's mostly an NBA and MLB thing than in the NFL (an already violent sport).
Nope. Which is why I doubt a suspension will happen here, unless its on Finnegan since he has a history. The NFL doesn't seem to suspend players often for fighting. Just an ejection and then a fine.
Players typically have their helmets on during fights which protects them from any serious damage. AJ's haymakers could have done some serious damage on Jersey Shore boy which is why I think he'll get suspended.
This! I want the titans to play their hearts out against the jaguars and beat them soundly. But I think Fisher wants to get fired so he can explore the waters. Wouldn't be surprised if the game plan next week for the titans is 90% pass and a couple of carries for CJ.
