The league is always trying to find new avenues for growth. One of their initiatives right now is trying to expand the fanship of women. I highly doubt the media comparing two games for wife beating versus sixteen for bong ripping isn't weighing on them. At minimum, it helps to explain why they're dragging their feet on the Gordon resolution. Farther away from the Rice story, the better.
This argument is flawed.
IF (huge if) the league were willing to do "something" to expand their fanship of women, don't you think they would have come down more strenuously on women? Do you really believe women are going to go "how the hell could Ray Rice only get suspended 2 games for knocking out his fiancee? Oh, wait, the league didn't suspend Josh Gordon for failing a drug test, let's go buy some NFL merchandise!"
I've said it before, I'll say it again...
These headlines are what Goodell and the league do not want to have to see and answer to:
"NFL suspends player 16 games for smoking pot, weeks after suspending another player 2 games for beating fiancee."
"NFL cares more about pot smoking than violence against women."
Neither of these headlines is fair, or tells even close to the full story. But you better believe they will come because they'll generate clicks and chatter.
I bet if Goodell could go back, he'd suspend Rice for six games. But that's spilled milk. What he does have control over still, is Gordon's case and the PR ramification therein.
You guys can disagree, and I certainly welcome and respect that, but I haven't heard anything yet about this particular angle to change my thinking. Does this mean Gordon won't get 16 games? Not necessarily. But I do think it's weighing on Goodell and the league brass. Unfortunately for the sake of this debate, we'll never know how much.
What about the Headline: Gordon tests positive 3 times in college...Gordon tests positive 3 times in a 1yr and a half in the pros...Gordon friend busted for possession while riding in Gordons car, Gordon arrested for DUI......Goodell goes light on Gordons suspension 8 games......That won't look bad in the headlines?
Not nearly as bad as the headlines above. Not to mention... didn't he only test positive once in college? From what I understand, there were two incidents. One, where him and Willie Jefferson were found passed out at a Taco Bell and there was weed found in Jefferson's car. Gordon was suspended a few games for it and Jefferson was booted from the team. That was Oct 2010, then in July 2011 he was suspended for failing a drug test, testing positive for weed. So he actually only tested positive once in college.
Since entering the pros I believe he's only technically tested positive twice? Once prior to last season which netted him the 2 game suspension. Then once again coming into this season which is the situation we're currently discussing now. On July 5th though, he was pulled over in NC for a DWI and it was reported he had a BAC of 0.09 which is a) not pot and b) really unlucky. You could throw a 0.09 after two beers, which is something most people would agree, is usually pretty safe to drive under. The legal limit in NC is 0.08 so he literally once again just barely tested positive.
These two occurrences of trouble this year are interesting. Cause honestly, I think he has more bad luck than he has stupidity. He barely tests positive for marijuana in his system and on the confirmation test actually tests negative. Then, he gets pulled over and blows literally 1 point above the legal limit, which while still 'illegal' is just stupid bad luck. At 0.09 it's highly unlikely he was doing anything to deserve to be pulled over, .09 isn't even really that impaired (which is why it's the legal limit) for most people. He was speeding a bit and that's what led to him being pulled over and the cop was probably being a ### and decided to test his BAC too because it was nighttime.
All in all, yes, he's had some drug problems in his past. But don't take 3 failed tests and just double it into 6 with no proof.
