should Plaxico Burress be suspended by the league for shooting himself?

[Paulypalooza]

The way Goodell has handed out suspensions in the past says yes, but the way he continues to forgive Pacman Jones says no. What say you?

[silverwhisper]

um...is there a league policy for packing while stupid?

[Paulypalooza]

um...is there a league policy for packing while stupid?

I was referring to the personal conduct policy

Unfortunately as a Cowboy fan I am rather familiar with it
see: Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2798214
NFL personal conduct policy
ESPN.com

Updated: March 13, 2007

General policy
Engaging in violent and/or criminal activity is unacceptable and constitutes conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League. Such conduct alienates the fans on whom the success of the League depends and has negative and sometimes tragic consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator.

The League is committed to promoting and encouraging lawful conduct and to providing a safe and professional workplace for its employees.


Persons covered by policy
The following persons ("Covered Persons") shall be considered subject to this Policy: (i) all players under contract; (ii) all full-time employees of the National Football League, its Member Clubs and related entities; (iii) all rookie players once they are selected in the NFL college draft; and (iv) all undrafted rookie players, unsigned veterans and other prospective employees once they commence negotiations with a Club concerning employment.


Prohibited conduct
It will be considered conduct detrimental for Covered Persons to engage in (or to aid, abet or conspire to engage in or to incite) violent and/or criminal activity. Examples of such Prohibited Conduct include, without limitation: any crime involving the use or threat of physical violence to a person or persons; the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime; possession or distribution of a weapon in violation of state or federal law; involvement in "hate crimes" or crimes of domestic violence; theft, larceny or other property crimes; sex offenses; racketeering; money laundering; obstruction of justice; resisting arrest; fraud; and violent or threatening conduct. Additionally, Covered Persons shall not by their words or conduct suggest that criminal activity is acceptable or condoned within the NFL.


Persons charged with criminal activity
Any Covered Person arrested for or charged with conduct prohibited by this policy will be required to undergo a consultation and additional counseling as directed. Failure to comply with the consultation and counseling (including being arrested for or charged with additional criminal activity during the evaluation and counseling period) shall itself be conduct detrimental to the National Football League and shall be punishable by fine or suspension at the discretion of the Commissioner.


Disposition of the criminal proceeding
Any Covered Person convicted of or admitting to a criminal violation (including a plea to a lesser included offense; a plea of nolo contendere or no contest; or the acceptance of a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision, or similar arrangement) will be subject to discipline as determined by the Commissioner. Such discipline may include a fine, suspension without pay and/or banishment from the League. Any Covered Person convicted of or admitting to a second criminal violation will be suspended without pay or banished for a period of time to be determined by the Commissioner.


Persons engaged in violent activity in the workplace
Every employee is entitled to a safe and professional workplace free of criminal behavior, violence and threats against personal safety. Criminal conduct in the workplace or against other employees is prohibited. Any Covered Person who commits or threatens violent acts against co-workers, regardless of whether an arrest is made or criminal charges are brought, shall be subject to evaluation, counseling and discipline, including termination of employment.


Duty to report prohibited conduct
To ensure the effective administration of the policy, the League must be advised when a Covered Person engages in Prohibited Conduct. The obligation to report an arrest or criminal charge extends to both the person involved and to the Club or League entity for which he or she works.

When a person subject to this policy is arrested or charged with Prohibited Conduct, that information must be reported to the Club and NFL Security. Failure to report an incident will constitute conduct detrimental and will be taken into consideration in the final determination of discipline under this policy.


Appeal rights
Any person disciplined under this policy shall have a right of appeal, including a hearing, before the Commissioner or his designee. Except for the enforcement of a suspension, no other requirements set forth in the policy will be stayed pending the completion of the appeal.

[carmachu]

um...is there a league policy for packing while stupid?

well that depends if he has a license or not....

[Paulypalooza]

well that depends if he has a license or not....

I think you guys are missing the point. This isn't a court of law. It's not about the gun was registered or whether or not he had a permit to carry.

As commissioner Goodell can suspend him simply for having the weapon discharge in a public place.

General policy
Engaging in violent and/or criminal activity is unacceptable and constitutes conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League. Such conduct alienates the fans on whom the success of the League depends and has negative and sometimes tragic consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator.
.

As it stands I think a four game suspension would be a bit harsh but could be justified. But I would really like to wait for more facts on the incident before weighing in.

[Starhawk]

I think the commissioner should keep his hands in his pockets and his mouth shut, unless it turns out that the gun wasn't registered, etc., making it a criminal act. If anyone does anything, it should be the team.

If this was simply an accidental discharge, I don't think it should be treated differently than any other sort of accidental injury. If Plax tripped down some stairs and hurt his leg, nobody would want him suspended.... even if the stairs were at a club where he was drinking.

[Wook]

If it is a criminal act, and I suspect that the accidental discharge of a firearm is at least fine-worthy in NYC, then any suspension should be concurrent with recovering from the bullet wound.

[silverwhisper]

possession or distribution of a weapon in violation of state or federal law
this is the part of the policy plax violated--according to the local sports media, the weapon was unregistered & unlicensed in NY or NJ. and perhaps more distressingly, defensive captain antonio pierce was with him.

the report i saw suggested plax was sitting, the gun in his pocket. he felt it shift, went to stabilize it, and accidentally shot himself as a result. the disturbing thing--not mentioned in the online reports i'm seeing--is that apparently, pierce hid the gun somewhere in NJ. this means that as theoretical obstruction of justice, pierce could also be guilty of violating the conduct clause.

the daily news is calling for the giants to ditch him, as are at least 2 of the newark star-ledger's writers.

[Paulypalooza]

the daily news is calling for the giants to ditch him, as are at least 2 of the newark star-ledger's writers.

Plax has been nothing but trouble all season long. Combine that with his stats this year 35 rec/ 454 yards/ 4TD for the money he is getting paid and I wouldn't be surprised if NY did ditch him after the season is done. They certainly haven't missed him in the games he has been out with injuries and the previous suspension handed out by the team.

[silverwhisper]

chris mortensen, ESPN senior editor, is pretty sure that plax has played his last game in a giants uniform.

i'll admit, this past off-season, i was licking my chops: a healthy plax who'd be able to spend time with eli continuing to work on their timing would be, i thought then, a terror on the field.

i'm pretty damned disappointed, i have to say.

[Dr. Mercury]

I think he ought to be shot--again. :D

[carmachu]

the report i saw suggested plax was sitting, the gun in his pocket. he felt it shift, went to stabilize it, and accidentally shot himself as a result. the disturbing thing--not mentioned in the online reports i'm seeing--is that apparently, pierce hid the gun somewhere in NJ. this means that as theoretical obstruction of justice, pierce could also be guilty of violating the conduct clause.


Thats not the story I heard. He was at the club and was asked to turn it over and pulled it out and dropped it and it discharged....

Pierce is good. He's going to cooperate with authories in exchange for dropped charges and immunity....You knew that was going to happen.

[Paulypalooza]

Pierce is good. He's going to cooperate with authories in exchange for dropped charges and immunity....You knew that was going to happen.

I was hoping Pierce would miss a few games but yeah, he's going to come out of this just fine.

[silverwhisper]

pauly: hey now, don't you go trying to jinx my d, wishing AP was gonna get tangled up in all this!

[Paulypalooza]

pauly: hey now, don't you go trying to jinx my d, wishing AP was gonna get tangled up in all this!

Go ahead Ed, lie to me and tell me you didn't at least crack a smile when you saw Ware and Barber go down on Thanksgiving knowing that the Boys were playing the G Men in two weeks.

[silverwhisper]

honestly, i didn't. i want the boys at full strength when big blue meets 'em. because if big blue is the winner of that meeting, i have the satisfaction of knowing that the giants took their best shot and didn't blink.

the only time i so much as crack a smile when a player is injured is when it's someone who plays dirty (see also: harrison, rodney).

[Paulypalooza]

that my friend earned you some good good sportmanship rep.

[silverwhisper]

[bows]

thank you, sir.

[Paulypalooza]

Call it bad form if you like but a fair fight is one I don't want to be in. If my teams opponent is short handed (provided it isn't because of a major injury) I'm all for it.

[Brother Brian]

honestly, i didn't. i want the boys at full strength when big blue meets 'em. because if big blue is the winner of that meeting, i have the satisfaction of knowing that the giants took their best shot and didn't blink.

the only time i so much as crack a smile when a player is injured is when it's someone who plays dirty (see also: harrison, rodney).

You know, I've heard this ad nausium, but haven't seen it.

What exactly does Harriosn do that's dirty?

[silverwhisper]

BB: you yourself referred to harrison as a cheap shot artist after he went down with his injury, IIRC so i'm surprised you ask. what i've seen: late hits, greater tendency to behavior that will draw the 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct than other players.

chimaera: damned if i know!

[Brother Brian]

Really?

While I'll conceed that Harrison doesn't always pull up as quickly as he should, that describes about 80% of the NFL.

[silverwhisper]

my point was harrison takes it farther than most players.

[Dr. Mercury]

Apropos of nothing, but exactly what kind of name is "Plaxico"???
His momma named him for a mouth rinse. :D

[silverwhisper]

whatever he was named for, it surely wasn't a gun safety product...