Those of you who don't think this will hold up must be forgetting the NFL is a pretty good judge of it's legal limitations. I also heard on the radio that Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA might be OK with this, which could mean a lot of players in the NFL are also because they are tired of the rap all NFL players get because of the actions of a few. But I'm still waiting for a public statement from the NFLPA. It is interesting they haven't released anything yet. Like it or not, playing in the NFL is not a right, it's a privilege. Like it or not, full due process is not required in this case. The penalty given is extremely harsh and I like it because it will send a strong message to the criminal element in the NFL to clean up it's act. If there is one thing that is a sore peeve of mine is young celebrities and athletes who act as if they are above the law.
IMO let the legal authorities handle it. Meanwhile how many wife/GF/pick-up girl beaters are playing and coaching in the pro leagues. That IMO is a lot worse than random drug, club fight related, and even D&D charges--unless the charges shows a clear link to another person being injured and is proven in the court of law.
The Vegas incident should fit your bill. The lawsuit against Pacman by the shooting victim will empty his wallet further. Definitely wife/GF beatings are very very bad, but when no charges are pressed because the female won't talk or undergo a medical exam there is absolutely nothing anybody can do about it. That's just the way it is whether you and I like it or not. The Warren Moon beat-down of his wife drove that home. For me personally, it was a defining moment of understanding on that subject. It made me sick to my stomach as have all subsequent cases that I've heard about, celebrity or not.
But if you can fire someone for unproven charges leading to bad publicity you should be able to fire someone for bad publicity around (unprovem, even uncharged but witnessed) claims of assault.
I understand what you are saying but it's not quite the same. At the same time, if police get called to a players house several times in one year because a woman is under assault, some type of action by the NFL is likely eventually. Maybe not after the 1st or 2nd time, but maybe the 3rd or 4th. However you look at it, Pacman's very long history plus the extreme nature of what happened in Las Vegas puts him in a different category. If a guy hadn't got shot and paralyzed in Vegas, I SERIOUSLY doubt Pacman would have been suspended the entire season. Just my opinion. I think that violent event put Pacman in a separate class. Another thing to consider is the NFL has more detailed info on Pacman's past than we have. He has a long list of criminalistic and violent behavior.
