Wilbon on Taylor/Vick

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010902001.html

Most of the time, I agree with Michael Wilbon's old-school attitude towards punishing stupid behavior. However, if you are comparing Portis' socks violation with Taylor's spitting isn't it fair to say that Portis' $20k fine was just ridiculously stringent, as opposed to Taylor's punishment being lenient? I can't think of any precedent in the NFL (or pro-sports in general) that is consistent with a $17k, let alone talk of suspension. Romo had a far worse reputation at the time of his spitting violation and was fined like $5k.

Not excusing it or making a case that a worse fine would be outta line, but I'm talking about consistency in punishment.



2 other things that stood out from his column...

1- Marcus Vick's rap sheet.
"Okay, so we've got allegedly brandishing a firearm one week after stomping his spikes on an opponent's leg during a game, which came two weeks after being arrested for a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license. This came a couple of months after flipping the middle finger to West Virginia fans, and a year or so after being arrested for providing alcohol to three underage girls, reckless driving and possession of marijuana and a first suspension."
DAMN!!

2- How great is it when your SS scares the receivers.
"When other football players say -- and believe me, they say it privately -- that Taylor has that thuggish quality, they're saying it half in admiration, half in fear."
:towel:

If the NFL really wanted to fine players they'd take away their playing time. Now that would really get their attention.

I think the real complaint here is not that players aren't fined enough for bad acts (fighting, spitting, etc.), but fined way too much for ticky tack stuff (mismatched socks, wrong color shoes, etc.)

i,m with brudlee here i have seen a bigger fine cause of clintons socks.
ticky tacky indeed. gettin their hands on too many issues.

My understanding with CP is that it was an escalating fine - the first violation had a low fine, the second was $20k, and, if he had done it a third time, he was going to get suspended. I'm not saying that "ticky-tack" stuff should get the same merit as spitting but, rather, that, repeat violations will always get more attention than first time violations.

Wilbon = Chicago Homer!

My understanding with CP is that it was an escalating fine - the first violation had a low fine, the second was $20k, and, if he had done it a third time, he was going to get suspended. I'm not saying that "ticky-tack" stuff should get the same merit as spitting but, rather, that, repeat violations will always get more attention than first time violations.


Fair enough, but to that point Sean Taylor has also spit on people before (TJ Houshmanzadeh), not to mention plenty of late hits. There was no ultimatum threat on his next violation though.

The only remaining question I have about the Taylor spitting incident is whether Gregg Williams is pissed that Taylor denied spitting on Pittman.

The only remaining question I have about the Taylor spitting incident is whether Gregg Williams is pissed that Taylor denied spitting on Pittman.

Yes, when I spoke to Gregg, he said how disappointed he was with Sean lying and all. He said the only way Sean could possibly erase the pain of that horrible lie would be if he leveled Shawn Alexander, forced a fumble, recovered the fumble, ran it 43 yards to the house.

I tell you, these coaches are totally spineless. Coach Jankey Spankey would've benched bonehead Sean Taylor's a$$ for the next playoff game.

the bottom line is that the players ARE the game.and i dont want anyone but coach jankey spankey running the show when coach gibbs retires