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Myles Garrett needs to be permanently suspended (1 Viewer)

I know..."the law is the law"... "mandatory minimums"...Perpetuate the broken criminal justice system. More importantly, lets not use common sense and judge situations on an individual basis. Lets just make more laws to prevent this extremely isolated incident from ever happening again. I'm sure Garrett and all of those involved were contemplating the consequences of their behaviour in the heat of the moment. Lets just put these guys in an arena and let them pummel each other for 60 minutes and then throw the law at them when things get out of hand. Such a stupid society we live in.
"Your honor, I know my client committed assault with a deadly weapon, but it's only because he was really mad at the time."

 
Pouncey was punching and kicking a guy in the head even if deserved that's much worse than a shove. 
We are going to have to agree to disagree.  Sure, had Pouncy done that to a player with no helmet on I would support your position.  Had he done it to a player that was uninvolved at that moment in any altercation or one who had no way of knowing it was coming, I would support your position.  For me, and perhaps it is me alone, the act of charging a guy, from behind, a guy away from the fray, a guy without head protection, and knocking him over is worse.  Now I acknowledge it is not a head attack, but it is the element of cowardice and victimizing the nonparticipant at that moment, from behind which I find more reprehensible than giving a guy who has something coming more or less what he has coming.  

Now it does appear the league takes your position over mine, so you have support while I do not.  Not the first time my moral compass has had me standing somewhat alone.

 
Huh.  I’ve been a lawyer for over 25 years and know how it is decided whether to bring criminal charges.  Please explain it to me.
Certainly, there is such a thing as prosecutorial discretion, which without a shadow of a doubt will be invoked to pass on the prosecution of a case of assault where no injuries were sustained, the victim refuses to cooperate, and a multi billion dollar corporation with a major branch in your city wants badly to go away. I believe that is how the law will work in this case, and in any such case outside of Utopia Law School.

 
Certainly, there is such a thing as prosecutorial discretion, which without a shadow of a doubt will be invoked to pass on the prosecution of a case of assault where no injuries were sustained, the victim refuses to cooperate, and a multi billion dollar corporation with a major branch in your city wants badly to go away. I believe that is how the law will work in this case, and in any such case outside of Utopia Law School.
The victim's agent is currently threatening civil action, and the NFL has issued a disciplinary action.   Neither of those is an indication that the "victim refuses to cooperate" or that the NFL is pressuring anyone not to prosecute.

They may or may not charge him, but your view of how things actually work is just wrong.

 
Some smoking hot takes in here and some astute ones as well.

1) Banning him from the playoffs lol; might as well ban Fantasycurse42 from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2) Precedent should be set here, I'd be okay with banning next season as well. Not sure how it would impact the CBA, but I think it would delay a season towards free agent eligibility.

3) Glad it happened late at night and my kids didn't see it (guess it was a Browns game, so they prob wouldn't have seen it anyways :)  ).

4) I'm okay with the retaliation of the Steelers players (Pouncey); once you swing a helmet at a player (especially a QB, but regardless really), all bets are off.

5) I hope he isn't reinstated next season, but assume he will be. 

 
The victim's agent is currently threatening civil action, and the NFL has issued a disciplinary action.   Neither of those is an indication that the "victim refuses to cooperate" or that the NFL is pressuring anyone not to prosecute.

They may or may not charge him, but your view of how things actually work is just wrong.
So you are suggesting the NFL would welcome a criminal prosecution of something that happened in one of their games based on the fact that they moved quickly to handle to handle it in house? Interesting read.

And as to Rudolphs lawyer, well lets just see if that case gets off the ground... or if you hear another word out of his mouth once Rudolphs employers have a chance to confer with him.

They will not charge him. Than can charge him, but its not going to happen. If you disagree, i'm open to a wager.

 
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I'd highly recommend Rudolph not seek criminal prosecution especially given he will be playing against Cleveland again in a couple weeks. 

 
I know..."the law is the law"... "mandatory minimums"...Perpetuate the broken criminal justice system. More importantly, lets not use common sense and judge situations on an individual basis. Lets just make more laws to prevent this extremely isolated incident from ever happening again. I'm sure Garrett and all of those involved were contemplating the consequences of their behaviour in the heat of the moment. Lets just put these guys in an arena and let them pummel each other for 60 minutes and then throw the law at them when things get out of hand. Such a stupid society we live in.
I've been a fan of this game, and have been watching teams play this game for 60 minutes and pummel each other while doing so for decades.  I've never seen a player forcibly remove an opposing player's helmet and then use it as a weapon against that player.  Garrett not only crossed the line, he took a triple jump over it on his way.

 
One of us is strictly by the book and one of us uses common sense.
"By the book"=our actual laws.   Your version of common sense is that if someone acts in the heat of the moment, they shouldn't be held responsible because they weren't considering the consequences of their actions at the time.   Those are your words.  That's absolute rubbish.   We don't let people commit crimes because they lack impulse control.

 
I'm good with Garrett's punishment.  His agent/agency will earn their money this off-season, because Garrett better put together a resume about why he should be reinstated next year. If Rudolph were from Chicago, he'd wake up today with "lingering headaches, back pain, and dizziness"....essentially the Myles Garrett retirement plan

I thought Pouncey's punishment was a game more than it needed to be, and might be reduced on appeal.  His kick to Garrett's helmet, however weak, is where the extra game came from.  Given the league's (purported) stance on head injuries, I'd understand it staying at 3 to send a message.  

I would have thrown a 2 gamer at Ogunjobi.  To a certain extent his cheap shot was worse than Garrett's.  Not necessarily as potentially lethal, but was an incredibly cheap blindside hit on a player without a helmet.  That wasn't a "heat of the moment" thing like Garrett was going through.  It was a purposeful attack.

 
"By the book"=our actual laws.   Your version of common sense is that if someone acts in the heat of the moment, they shouldn't be held responsible because they weren't considering the consequences of their actions at the time.   Those are your words.  That's absolute rubbish.   We don't let people commit crimes because they lack impulse control.
"by the book"=our actual laws in a broken criminal justice system.

 
Should an MLB pitcher be charged with assault for throwing at a batter's head? 
No, that's in the game.  Now, if it's purposeful, an argument could be made but I'd personally still be against it.  Ripping off another player's helmet and then using it as a weapon is not "part of the game".

 
We are going to have to agree to disagree.  Sure, had Pouncy done that to a player with no helmet on I would support your position.  Had he done it to a player that was uninvolved at that moment in any altercation or one who had no way of knowing it was coming, I would support your position.  For me, and perhaps it is me alone, the act of charging a guy, from behind, a guy away from the fray, a guy without head protection, and knocking him over is worse.  Now I acknowledge it is not a head attack, but it is the element of cowardice and victimizing the nonparticipant at that moment, from behind which I find more reprehensible than giving a guy who has something coming more or less what he has coming.  

Now it does appear the league takes your position over mine, so you have support while I do not.  Not the first time my moral compass has had me standing somewhat alone.
I think it’s also fair to mention that it seemed like DeCastro had Myles pinned to the turf when Pouncey’s feet started flying. DeCastro is the one guy that did right during the situation. I applaud him. Too bad one of his other teammates or a Browns defensive player didn’t restrain the QB when he got to his feet and charged. 

 
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Not related to the Garrett incident, but giving a little background to the atmosphere of last night - can anyone recall a player getting a helmet to helmet hit so bad that they start BLEEDING FROM THE EAR?  Yes, the D Johnson hit earlier in the game.  I'd never seen that in an NFL game that I can remember.  Perhaps it happens and they just don't show it, but that looked horrible. 

 
Not related to the Garrett incident, but giving a little background to the atmosphere of last night - can anyone recall a player getting a helmet to helmet hit so bad that they start BLEEDING FROM THE EAR?  Yes, the D Johnson hit earlier in the game.  I'd never seen that in an NFL game that I can remember.  Perhaps it happens and they just don't show it, but that looked horrible. 
I've never heard of that and I've watched the game for forty years. That's worrisome. 

 
Everything I hear about the guy says this was a one-off incident.  He sometimes plays hard after the whistle, but no more so than the average player.

None of these guys are teddy bears, but from what I can gather Garrett isn't a thuggish player.
Thanks, that was my impression also. He just went off.

Btw the NFL has a history of violence just like that. There is film of **** Butkus doing just that kind of thing (IIRC) and he is beloved for being the classic old school player. This was the game that became a national past time. 

 
No, that's in the game.  Now, if it's purposeful, an argument could be made but I'd personally still be against it.  Ripping off another player's helmet and then using it as a weapon is not "part of the game".
I can appreciate that argument, but what if it was purposeful? 

What about any purposeful pitch thrown at the batter, not just at the head? 

What about Suh stomping on Aaron Rodgers? 

 
Hopefully the Steelers are sending someone to Atlanta tomorrow to check out that guy that "took a knee" and never attempted to rip someones helmet off during the last seconds of an ###-wippin. 

 I'm just sayin... 😏

 
Not a fan of Pouncey's suspension - feels like if he was someone else, might've been 2 or less. Hopefully that is appealed and reduced. Unwritten rule in sports, but if someone takes a cheap shot at the QB, we all know the linemen are coming in... Someone swings a helmet at their bare head, there will be harsh retaliation.

 
Not a fan of Pouncey's suspension - feels like if he was someone else, might've been 2 or less. Hopefully that is appealed and reduced. Unwritten rule in sports, but if someone takes a cheap shot at the QB, we all know the linemen are coming in... Someone swings a helmet at their bare head, there will be harsh retaliation.
All bets are off when you kick somebody in the head.

 
IMO, the equivalent of what Garrett did is an MLB player charging the mound with his bat and taking a swing... 6 meaningless games for a 4-6 team is far from enough, IMO. 

Assume any sponsors behind him will drop him swiftly too... Hopefully he loses next season on top. Without setting a strong precedent, what prevents this from happening again? 

 
Not a fan of Pouncey's suspension - feels like if he was someone else, might've been 2 or less. Hopefully that is appealed and reduced. Unwritten rule in sports, but if someone takes a cheap shot at the QB, we all know the linemen are coming in... Someone swings a helmet at their bare head, there will be harsh retaliation.
I think it was set at 3 because they’ll end up reducing it to 2 upon appeal. The league probably doesn’t want him on the field in 2 weeks and I think that’s a wise decision if true.

 
I think it was set at 3 because they’ll end up reducing it to 2 upon appeal. The league probably doesn’t want him on the field in 2 weeks and I think that’s a wise decision if true.
If I was in the Browns front office, I wouldn't want Baker Mayfield on the field either. 

 
If I was in the Browns front office, I wouldn't want Baker Mayfield on the field either. 
And what does this comment have to do with Garrett or any of the other's involved?  Mayfield was nowhere near this scene, let alone a part of it.  Let's keep to the topic please.

 
And what does this comment have to do with Garrett or any of the other's involved?  Mayfield was nowhere near this scene, let alone a part of it.  Let's keep to the topic please.
He said the NFL doesn't want Pouncey on the field, something I agree with. I note that Steelers could be looking for retaliation, maybe take some low hits on Mayfield based on Garrett going after Rudolph. Pretty adjacent discussion, imo. Might be smart to just sit him down for the game, not sure why that irks you. 

 
Engelberg said:

I've read most of your comments on this subject and you have to be fishing, you cannot be serious with most of your comments.

The specific line that you just quoted may have been hyperbolic, but I'm not fishing.

I strongly believe that the government should not intervene in the realm of sports infractions unless it crosses a line that involves A) an unprecedented act, and B) serious injuries.

And based on the reduction in pitchforks and torches this morning, I don't think my opinion is an extreme outlier.
 
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I can appreciate that argument, but what if it was purposeful? 

What about any purposeful pitch thrown at the batter, not just at the head? 

What about Suh stomping on Aaron Rodgers?
If not "in the game" I would be all for legal action being taken.  If Suh stomped Rodgers and it caused Rodgers to miss games, I'd be surprised if legal action wasn't taken. 

Also, baseball thrown into batter's shoulder is no where near the same as a full sized NFL helmet being swung into a helmetless player's head. 

 
The more I see the replay the more Rudolph comes off as a dink to me, even more so with his postgame presser and now his agent suggesting legal action. The kind of guy you want to punch or, I guess, whack with a helmet.*

* I in no way condone Garrett's actions and think six games is about right.

 
The more I see the replay the more Rudolph comes off as a dink to me, even more so with his postgame presser and now his agent suggesting legal action. The kind of guy you want to punch or, I guess, whack with a helmet.*

* I in no way condone Garrett's actions and think six games is about right.
One of the most famous sayings in football is it's always the second guy that gets punished.

This whole thing is weird when you take the personalities of the people involved into account.  Garrett is kind of low-key and laid back, Rudolph is brash and way more of a hot-head.

Rudolph should have pulled a Tomlin at his presser or even asked Ben for advice.  I get why he said what he said, but he's got to realize whether he wants it or not he's a leader on this team and has to act that way.  He didn't carry himself like a leader in his presser, he carried himself like a guy that got smacked around and was PO'd about it.

I'll give Garrett a TON of credit for not claiming Rudolph used a racial slur.  Would have been easy to do and would have escalated this thing even more and made it much worse.

 
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If not "in the game" I would be all for legal action being taken.  If Suh stomped Rodgers and it caused Rodgers to miss games, I'd be surprised if legal action wasn't taken. 

Also, baseball thrown into batter's shoulder is no where near the same as a full sized NFL helmet being swung into a helmetless player's head. 
You're moving the goal posts here. 

1. I dont believe Rudolph is missing any time due to injury. I could be wrong. 

2. A pitch to the head is more deadly than a helmet to the head IMO

Suh stomped on Rodgers which did result in some injury, although he continued to play. It was assault with a cleatted foot and 300 pounds on top of it. No charges filed. 

Didnt Michael Vick's brother stomp on someone's head? I dont think he was charged

sure, stomping on someone's ankle vs swinging a helmet may not be equal for potential harm, but assault is assault. You guys want to talk about assault then you need to start lumping a lot of lesser offenses in with the same charges. Thats the point- what prescedebt is being set and where do you draw the line? If you want to prosecute all assault then youd better be ready to prosecute mlb pitchers, Baseball players in bench clearing brawls, hockey players who get in fights, and hits after the whistle in football. 

 
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