Explain This To Me Like I Have Never Even (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

I was reading this morning that the Cowboys are considering signing Tank Johnson after he misses the first 8 games due to suspension. In this case, it appears Johnson apparently can serve his suspension while he is unsigned by any franchise.

I also have read reports that should a team want to sign Antonio Bryant, that team would have to lose him for two games because he can't serve out his suspension while he is not signed.

(I don't know what the rules are and if these reports carry any semblence of accuracy.)

Aren't those two outcomes polar opposites? Similarly, Michael Vick is currently suspended indefinitely, but technically he is not playing. If at some point the NFL mandates a yearlong suspension, can't he just point to missing the 2007 season as serving the terms of his suspension?

Does anyone have any knoweldge of what the league suspension rules are and where they are posted (ie a link)?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

could it be substance abuse vs other suspension?

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

No clue.

 

[CrossEyed]

Probably some technicality in the cba.

 

[bostonfred]

Maybe one occurred while he was a member of a team, and he was subsequently cut, while the other occurred while he was a free agent?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Maybe one occurred while he was a member of a team, and he was subsequently cut, while the other occurred while he was a free agent?

That's a distinct possibility. Tank's occurred while still with the Bears, while I believe Bryant's latest offense came while he was a FA.

 

[David Yudkin]

Maybe one occurred while he was a member of a team, and he was subsequently cut, while the other occurred while he was a free agent?

That's a distinct possibility. Tank's occurred while still with the Bears, while I believe Bryant's latest offense came while he was a FA.

No. Bryant was still on the 49ers and he missed their last two games and still has two remaining games to go on his 4-game suspension. I know that him having to miss two games was brought up for teams potentially wanting to sign him and that was an issue. Again, I have no idea what the rule is or if what was being reported was accurate reporting.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Maybe one occurred while he was a member of a team, and he was subsequently cut, while the other occurred while he was a free agent?

That's a distinct possibility. Tank's occurred while still with the Bears, while I believe Bryant's latest offense came while he was a FA.

No. Bryant was still on the 49ers and he missed their last two games and still has two remaining games to go on his 4-game suspension. I know that him having to miss two games was brought up for teams potentially wanting to sign him and that was an issue. Again, I have no idea what the rule is or if what was being reported was accurate reporting.

You're right. The substance abuse policy indicates free agents on suspension serve their suspension the same as if they were under contract by a team, so I would imagine the references you have seen related to any team wishing to sign him in the off-season (i.e., he has to miss the first two games of the season no matter what). Now that the season is under way, he is in the process of serving that suspension, so somebody probably signs him before game 3 and has him available for the remainder of the season.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

"A free agent will serve his suspension as if he had a contract with a club. Any suspension period may be extended if medically necessary, and, if

extended, may involve mandatory treatment if required by the Medical Director in his discretion."

Page 23. This is specific to the drug policy, of course, but Bryant's suspension was related to substance abuse, IIRC.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Bryant's suspension will be considered served after Week 2 is over. Mike Florio emailed the league and specifically asked about the suspension of Tank Johnson. He was told that the suspension is considered as being served even if a player isn't on a team. He then followed up and asked about Bryant.

POSTED 10:58 a.m. EDT, September 12, 2007TANK'S SUSPENSION IS SHRINKINGNFL spokesman Greg Aiello, responding to a Wednesday morning e-mail inquiry, tells us that the eight-game suspension imposed on defensive tackle Tank Johnson is being served, even though he's not currently on a team.So, as a practical matter, Johnson apparently will be eligible to return after Week Eight. This news conflicts with our prior understanding that a suspension can't be served by a player who isn't under contract with a team. For example, we thought that receiver Andre Rison's NFL career ended prematurely had ended because he would have to serve a four-game suspension promptly after signing with a new team.We've believed the Rison rule to be accurate for so long that we couldn't recall how we first came to believe that it was the standard practice. To support our misimpression, we found a 2003 Tip Sheet from ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, wherein Len writes as follows: "Rison, 37, faces a four-game suspension if he ever signs a contract because of past sanctions resulting from a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy."But, per Aiello, the standard practice is to give players credit toward their suspensions for games that are played even if the players aren't on an NFL roster. We've since confirmed, for example, that receiver Antonio Bryant's remaining two-game suspension from 2006 will be satisfied after Week Two, despite the fact that he is not currently on any team.

 

[David Yudkin]

"A free agent will serve his suspension as if he had a contract with a club. Any suspension period may be extended if medically necessary, and, if

extended, may involve mandatory treatment if required by the Medical Director in his discretion."

Page 23. This is specific to the drug policy, of course, but Bryant's suspension was related to substance abuse, IIRC.

Thanks for finding the rule. But what about Vick? He's already suspended, so won't he be able to say that he already served his suspension if they come down later with a year long suspension?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

"A free agent will serve his suspension as if he had a contract with a club. Any suspension period may be extended if medically necessary, and, if

extended, may involve mandatory treatment if required by the Medical Director in his discretion."

Page 23. This is specific to the drug policy, of course, but Bryant's suspension was related to substance abuse, IIRC.

Thanks for finding the rule. But what about Vick? He's already suspended, so won't he be able to say that he already served his suspension if they come down later with a year long suspension?

Since it is stated as an indefinite suspension, I think it's solely at RG's discretion. "Yeah Mike, you've been out a year. Hope your life is in a better place. Tell you what, take ANOTHER year to make sure."

At the very least, he can always hand out the suspension as time served + whatever additional time he wants him to sit out (e.g., one year in prison + wanting 1 year non-prison suspension = 2 year suspension handed out).

 

[bostonfred]

Again, I'm speculating, but the difference might be that Bryant's suspension occurred at the end of his contract, so he served two weeks, and still has two non-contract weeks to serve. Teams can't circumvent this by waiting two weeks and then signing him.

On the other hand, Tank was released AFTER his suspension. He was under contract when it occurred. The team cannot force him to pay double jeopardy on the same offense - he's going to serve the eight games whether they want him on the roster or not. I can see the NFLPA requiring this to protect the player.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Again, I'm speculating, but the difference might be that Bryant's suspension occurred at the end of his contract, so he served two weeks, and still has two non-contract weeks to serve. Teams can't circumvent this by waiting two weeks and then signing him. On the other hand, Tank was released AFTER his suspension. He was under contract when it occurred. The team cannot force him to pay double jeopardy on the same offense - he's going to serve the eight games whether they want him on the roster or not. I can see the NFLPA requiring this to protect the player.

I don't think so. The rule specifically states a free agent serves his suspension as though he had a contract with a club. I really think the references David saw were all likely specific to a team interested in signing Bryant in the off-season, before he had a chance to serve the additional 2 games.