IK Enemkpali Facing At Least A Four Game Suspension
According to Ian Rappaport of NFL Network practice squad player IK Enemkpali is facing a four game suspension and possibly as much as a six game suspension for his incident earlier this year with QB Geno Smith. More specifically, Enemkpali is being punished for punching Smith and breaking his jaw.
According to reports Smith will be out nearly half of the season and it looks like Roger Goodell is doing an eye for an eye sort of punishment. Smith didn't want to press charges but the NFL decided to punish Enemkpali anyways. There's still the option of appealing the suspension but it's unclear if it will be used. When asked if he'll appeal the suspension Enemkpali said, "I ain't answering that."
Now, Enemkpali will probably appeal the suspension because, honestly, why not? What does he have to lose? Playing time? He's on the practice squad. He not going to play anyways.
Oh, but it's a bad look. Just accept it and move on.
That's what they said about Brady too, just so you know. I could argue that Enemkpali has already through the worst part. He got cut, twice. Plus, at this point Goodell is the wounded Gazelle limping along waiting to be taken down by a Lion. Now, to be fair, Enemkpali isn't a lion in this analogy. He's, at best an anteater that got lost but still wants to get in on the fun.
So what would Enemkpali argue? That he was provoked? That it was a team matter and not a league issue. Would he say that punishment is too strong and there's no precedent for doing this? Maybe he'd even argue that being cut from the team and the money that he lost was a worthy punishment.
However, if Enemkpali does appeal this to a higher court and wins for whatever reason then Goodell can't come back to work. He can't. For what? So more people can come out of the woodwork (James Harrison and Greg Hardy) and appeal their punishment. I understand that the NFL owners love him because he's the human shield for the owners but something like this would be so much worse. Brady, at least, is rich and powerful.
Part of me wants to see it for the pure anarchy of it but doubts it will happen. Maybe Enemkpali appeals to Goodell and he lowers it by a game or two but don't expect anything else. Happy opening Thursday Night Football Day!