If Roger Goodell’s first major move as NFL commissioner was designed to get the attention of everyone in the league, chalk it up as a big success.
Goodell’s landmark decision Tuesday to suspend Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones for the 2007 season and Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry for the first eight games for repeated violations of the league’s personal conduct policy was coupled with Goodell introducing a broader policy against misbehavior. The new rules allow larger fines and longer suspensions for players, and possibly for team penalties, such as the loss of draft picks.
Jones will not be paid his $1,292,500 salary. Henry will lose more than $200,000.
“I think the commissioner wanted to send a message and it was sent,” Broncos safety John Lynch said. “I think it had to be done. The commissioner showed everyone he is serious about getting this league cleaned up. I know 99 percent of this league is clean and that they are good people. Guys were getting tired of that 1 percent ruining it for everyone.”
Added Broncos owner Pat Bowlen: “It was an important message. We’re talking about a very small percentage of players who are getting in trouble, but it reflects on everyone. This is an important step.”
Goodell, who replaced the retired Paul Tagliabue in August, made it clear he will not accept the growing image that the NFL is full of out-of-control criminals.
“It is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right,” Goodell said in a statement. “These players and all members of our league have to make the right choices and decisions in their conduct on a consistent basis.”
Bowlen and Lynch pointed out Goodell’s ruling affects not only Jones, Henry and other players who may get suspended. It also affects their teams.
“This is not just letting the players know they have a responsibility, but it’s letting the club know that we have to be serious in the way we treat player conduct as well,” Bowlen said. “To lose a player like Pacman hurts the club, so these rules make teams focus on making players responsible for unacceptable conduct. This is a message to the clubs as much as it is to the players.”
Jones has been interviewed by police in 10 instances, with the most recent at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. Police recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and a shooting at a strip club paralyzed one man.
The suspension of Jones could be longer or shorter depending on developments in that case, a source with knowledge of the details of the suspension told The Associated Press. The suspension could be as short as 10 games if Jones meets conditions set by the league and is cleared in a pending case in Georgia, as well as the Las Vegas case.
“The Titans drafted him even though he had a long history of character issues,” Lynch said of Jones. “I’m a believer in second chances, but I don’t think I believe in fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh chances. Now Tennessee has to deal with losing a key player and a big part of their salary cap.”
Henry was arrested four times in a 14-month span. He was one of nine Bengals arrested in nine months.
“Henry will be missed, too,” Lynch said. “This was a move that everyone has to share the responsibility in.”
In light of Goodell’s decision, Boulder-based agent Tom Mills said he expects NFL teams to shy away from players with character issues in the April 28-29 draft.
“This makes teams pay attention,” Mills said. “This further demonstrates that the new commissioner has made player conduct a top priority. I don’t think anyone in this business can disagree that in this league image is vital to the continued success of the league.”
The message has been sent.
“It’s pretty stiff, obviously, but if you’re going to go out and do those kinds of things, you have to pay the consequences,” Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said. “Hopefully, everyone will take notice of this and hopefully stay out of trouble for a long time.”
Staff writer Mike Klis contributed to this report.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
