Keller @ Large: NFL's Suspension Policies Don't Make Sense
BOSTON (CBS) - Why did Tom Brady destroy his cell phone as the NFL's kangaroo court probe of DeflateGate intensified?
UPDATE: Tom Brady Releases Statement On Failed Appeal, Cell Phone
I don't know. Perhaps he feared a league notorious for leaking information to promote their agenda would do the same in this case.
There's no question, that doesn't look good for Brady.
But here's something else that doesn't look good – NFL suspension policies that reek of moral obtuseness and intellectual dishonesty.
After Brady's four-game suspension for alleged conduct detrimental to the game was upheld by Commissioner Goodell, I looked up every case in which the league or one of its teams has suspended a player for four games, just to see what sort of offense you have to commit to get that penalty.
Three of the suspensions were for insubordination of some kind, refusing to attend practice or take a physical exam.
One was for unspecified reasons.
The rest involved violent brawling, alleged sexual assault, discharge of an illegal weapon, and, in the most recent case, a four-game suspension given to Greg Hardy of the Dallas Cowboys for allegedly beating up his girlfriend.
This seems like a very curious moral compass at play, in which a highly-circumstantial case against Brady is being equated with violence, sexual assault and flagrant insubordination.
And get this – what do you think is the NFL's set punishment for a first-time DUI conviction?
One game.
One game for a crime that could easily kill someone. Four games for Tom Brady for… essentially nothing.
Nice going, commissioner. But better put on a hat.
The chasm between your ears is showing.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
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