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| mashedreport.com |
Pittsburgh Steeler's safety Troy Polamalu has been given a $15 dollar fine by the NFL for a horse collar tackle on Baltimore Raven's running back Ricky Williams in Sunday's game. The play happened late into the 3rd quarter.
In the same game, Raven's linebacker Brandon Ayanbadejo was also flagged for a horse collar tackle, there is no news indicating that he will receive a fine or not. Steelers' fans shouldn't hold their breath on that one. -Steelersdepot.com
What makes this more interesting and juicier for the conspiracy theorists is the Charles Woodson situation. Woodson threw a punch during the Packers-Saints game. Normally a player is automatically ejected from the game and fined on top of that. Woodson was slapped with a $10 million fine on Wednesday. How does that make any sense? Tackling someone the wrong way on accident is worse than punching someone in the head? How does that make sense?
My biggest gripe with Roger Goodell is his obvious inconsistency. NFL players got a free pass during the lockout, but Terrelle Pryor was suspended for five games for something he did in college.
Last year Ryan Clark, James Harrison and company were big time targets last year with some very questionable hits and fines. Harrison went on to rip Roger Goodell in Men's Journal Magazine and Ryan Clark had this juicy quote about Goodell:
"How often did you hear (former commissioner) Paul Tagliabue's name throughout the season?" Clark said. "I think (Goodell has) decided to make himself a major part of this game. I don't know if he had some type of high school dreams or Pop Warner dreams of being an NFL football player, but he's made himself the NFL. He is the most popular -- or infamous -- commissioner in sports right now, you know? Maybe that's what he wanted to be. We know he doesn't work for us, he doesn't work with us."-wpxi.com
Does Goodell have anything against the Steelers? Ask a Steelers' fan that question right now and I guarantee you they say yes. The facts point to yes also. This is not the first time a Steelers' player has gotten a harsh punishment, while a player on a team gets a lesser punishment for the same, or more severe incident.
Or maybe Goodell just doesn't like the fact that the Steelers speak out against him so much. Polamalu, who is usually one of the softest spoken people in the NFL, spoke out against Goodell last November.
"There needs to be some type of separation of power, like our government," Polamalu said. "I don't think it should be based totally on what two or three people may say that are totally away from the game. It should be some of the players that are currently playing."-ESPN.com
Ryan Clark has always said some not so nice things about Goodell: How often did you hear (former commissioner) Paul Tagliabue's name throughout the season?" Clark said. "I think (Goodell has) decided to make himself a major part of this game. I don't know if he had some type of high school dreams or Pop Warner dreams of being an NFL football player, but he's made himself the NFL. He is the most popular -- or infamous -- commissioner in sports right now, you know? Maybe that's what he wanted to be. We know he doesn't work for us, he doesn't work with us."
Then of course there was James Harrison who was seen on the cover on Men's Journal magazine shirtless, holding guns. He had some very flattering words for the commissioner:
"If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it," Harrison told the magazine. "I hate him and will never respect him."
His other descriptions of the commissioner include an anti-gay slur, "stupid," "puppet" and "dictator."-ESPN.com
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| sbnation.com |
Harrison was fined over $100,000 last year.
Another interesting thing to think about is there was a big scuffle in the Ravens-Steelers game. Polamalu was one of the several players involved and Ike Taylor received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. How you choose to give just one player a penalty is beyond me.
Finally of course, there was Ben Roethlisberger's suspension last year. Roethlisberger became the first player to get suspended without facing any criminal charges. Yet there were numerous players last year that were arrested and/or convicted with crimes, that were given a lesser punishment, or no punishment at all.
Here's an article I wrote about that situation last year:
Ben Roethlisberger: The Big White ExampleThe title says it all.
Furthermore, Roger Goodell, the commissioner of NFL, has been very inconsistent in his punishments. More than that, he used Big Ben as the "Big White Example." He's been very lenient when it comes to punishing black athletes, giving them a slap on the wrist. Roethlisberger, who committed no crimes, was used as example, a white example.
Going back to Edwards, take a look at this part of the NFL code of conduct:
"The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline 'even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime' as, for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person."
Another black player arrested with no suspension.
Early last week, Braylon Edwards, wide receiver for the New York Jets was ARRESTEDfor a DWI (drunk driving) in New York City. Edwards, has a history of bad behavior including being charged with assault on a man outside a night club.
Yet, the NFL has no plans to suspend Edwards, and he even gets to play Sunday night against the Dolphins. His only punishment: He'll be BENCHED FOR ONE QUARTER. Here in Pittsburgh, the Steelers offense will continue to struggle without it's star quarterback and best offensive player because he's suspended for the first four games, DESPITE NOT BEING CHARGED OR ARRESTED FOR ANY TYPE OF CRIME.
Yet, the NFL has no plans to suspend Edwards, and he even gets to play Sunday night against the Dolphins. His only punishment: He'll be BENCHED FOR ONE QUARTER. Here in Pittsburgh, the Steelers offense will continue to struggle without it's star quarterback and best offensive player because he's suspended for the first four games, DESPITE NOT BEING CHARGED OR ARRESTED FOR ANY TYPE OF CRIME.
Why is that?
Is it because he's a quarterback? Well, that can't be. Vince Young, who's a really well known athlete, and a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans was charged with an assault this past summer. There's a even a video of Young assaulting a man on YouTube.
Numerous other black NFL players were arrested and charged with crimes this past summer, yet the only ones that were suspended were due to failing a drug test, which is an automatic four-game suspension.
Ben-haters will come at me and say that what Roethlisberger did was wrong and he was trying to take advantage of a girl.
Here's some facts about the girl:
Why? Because he snubbed you for an autograph? Because he wasn't nice to you at your lousy restaurant job? Ben Roethlisberger has done nothing besides win games and championships for the city of Pittsburgh and the franchise. Yet everybody threw him under the bus.Is it because he's a quarterback? Well, that can't be. Vince Young, who's a really well known athlete, and a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans was charged with an assault this past summer. There's a even a video of Young assaulting a man on YouTube.
Numerous other black NFL players were arrested and charged with crimes this past summer, yet the only ones that were suspended were due to failing a drug test, which is an automatic four-game suspension.
Ben-haters will come at me and say that what Roethlisberger did was wrong and he was trying to take advantage of a girl.
Here's some facts about the girl:
1. She was wearing a DTF name tag. For those of you who don't know what that means, I'll tell, it means willing to have sex with someone.
2. She and her friends followed Roethlisberger and his entourage around all night, including multiple locations. Who was chasing who?
3. She admitted there was no rape involved. So the Rapistberger and rapist jokes that your douche-bag friends tell make them sound like an uneducated idiot.
All this aside, the bottom line is that there is something very wrong going on. Roethlisberger is being treated very unfairly by the media and football fans. Even people in Pittsburgh have turned on him.
2. She and her friends followed Roethlisberger and his entourage around all night, including multiple locations. Who was chasing who?
3. She admitted there was no rape involved. So the Rapistberger and rapist jokes that your douche-bag friends tell make them sound like an uneducated idiot.
All this aside, the bottom line is that there is something very wrong going on. Roethlisberger is being treated very unfairly by the media and football fans. Even people in Pittsburgh have turned on him.
Furthermore, Roger Goodell, the commissioner of NFL, has been very inconsistent in his punishments. More than that, he used Big Ben as the "Big White Example." He's been very lenient when it comes to punishing black athletes, giving them a slap on the wrist. Roethlisberger, who committed no crimes, was used as example, a white example.
Going back to Edwards, take a look at this part of the NFL code of conduct:
"The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline 'even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime' as, for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person."
"The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that 'undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs or NFL players.' By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard."
Edwards put himself, two of his teammates and the general public at risk by the irresponsible consumption of alcohol and subsequently operating a motor vehicle. So how does Edward's behavior differ and what rationale can the league use to ignore it?
The problem is, of course, that Goodell owes no one an explanation and for whatever reason, no journalist will ask the question. Can we say, "double-standard?"
Ask yourself this: How would the black community react if a high-profile black player was suspended for the same length, WITHOUT being charged with a crime or even arrested?
Ask yourself this: How would the black community react if a high-profile black player was suspended for the same length, WITHOUT being charged with a crime or even arrested?
Al Sharpton would be everywhere Goodell was at every moment. There would be town meetings and protests in the streets. However, Roethlisberger is white, and rich white people are looked at differently. Blatant racism in front of all your stupid faces.
Not to mention, I'm sure Edwards will be charged with this crime. I guess the letter of Goodell's law isn't so black and white—or maybe that's all it is.
Whether or not Goodell is a puppet, has something against the Steelers, or is just flat out inconsistent, something needs to change. Goodell is not being fair and/or consistent in his rulings. He has too much power and is far to inconsistent. Something needs to be done.
Not to mention, I'm sure Edwards will be charged with this crime. I guess the letter of Goodell's law isn't so black and white—or maybe that's all it is.
Whether or not Goodell is a puppet, has something against the Steelers, or is just flat out inconsistent, something needs to change. Goodell is not being fair and/or consistent in his rulings. He has too much power and is far to inconsistent. Something needs to be done.
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