List Of 2015 NFL Suspensions Shows Tom Brady’s Ban Makes Little Sense
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld Tom Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension Tuesday. That means, because of the New England Patriots’ Week 4 bye, the quarterback will miss his team’s Week 5 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.
Greg Hardy, who allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend, will play for the Cowboys, though, after finishing his four-game ban, as The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin pointed out.
[tweet https://twitter.com/BenVolin/status/626115150156812288 align=’center’]
Hardy and many other NFL players have received suspensions as long or shorter than Brady’s to start the 2015 season. Their violations, however, don’t necessarily appear on par with letting air out of footballs — Brady’s alleged infraction.
Check out the list, and you be the judge.
Four-Game Suspensions
Hardy: Found guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, but that later was overturned when the woman wouldn’t testify on appeal. Suspension initially stood at 10 games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, but was reduced to four games July 10. Hardy played in only one game in 2014 and spent most of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Derek Wolfe, Denver Broncos defensive end: Suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets defensive end: Suspended after testing positive for marijuana for the second time.
Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys linebacker: Suspended after failing a drug test for the fourth time.
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers tight end: Violated the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
Trey Watts, St. Louis Rams running back: Violated NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse for the first time.
Eben Britton, Chicago Bears right tackle: Undisclosed violation.
Victor Butler, New York Giants linebacker: Violated NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Three-Game Suspensions
Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback: Pulled over by police after his car crashed into a light pole. Pleaded guilty and was given two years probation on DUI charge.
Letroy Guion, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle: Arrested in February on marijuana charges in Florida.
Two-Game Suspensions
Jabari Price, Minnesota Vikings cornerback: Pleaded guilty to careless driving and agreed to 30 days of electronic home monitoring after being arrested in December for DWI.
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: Arrested in August and charged with DUI and marijuana possession. Suspension initially stood at three games but was reduced after settlement conversations following Bell’s appeal.
One-Game Suspensions
Datone Jones, Green Bay Packers defensive end: Cited for marijuana possession Jan. 19.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts running back: Suspended June 22 after pleading no contest to marijuana possession in May.
Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle: Arrested in May 2014 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots running back: Arrested in August 2014, along with Bell, after police found three-fourths of an ounce of marijuana in Bell’s car. Charge was dropped after Blount agreed to complete 50 hours of community service.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
