slides: The 20 Worst Player Suspensions in NFL Under Roger Goodell

Thursday, May 14, 2015

 

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Roger Goodell

Following the NFL's four game suspension of Tom Brady for his involvment in Deflategate, GoLocalWorcester has put together a list of the worst and longest suspensions under the reign of Commissioner Roger Goodell.

SEE BELOW:  20 Worst Player Suspensions in NFL Under Roger Goodell

Goodell took over as Commissioner on September 1, 2006. The following year, Goodell implemented a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy to address the growing number of arrests and drug use off the field. Goodell really made his mark in 2011 when he suspended eight players and coaches on the New Orleans Saints for the Bountygate scandal.

Notable players not on this list include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who was suspended for four games following accusations that violated the NFL's personal conduct guidelines and former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice who was initially suspended for two games, then suspended indefinetly, and then ultimately the suspension was vacated. 

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Here are the 20 worst and longest player suspensions handed down by Commissioner Goodell:

 

Related Slideshow: The 20 Worst Player Punishments in NFL History

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#20

Player: Weslye Saunders

Team: Indianpolis Colts 

Year: 2013

Suspension: 8 Game Suspension

Reason: 2nd Violation of NFL's Substance Abuse Policy (Adderall - 1st offense, unknown - 2nd offense)

Photo Credit: "Weslye Saunders" by Jeffrey Beall - Own work. 

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#19

Player: Chris Henry

Team: Cincinatti Bengals

Year: 2007

Suspension: 8 Games

Reason: Violation of Personal Conduct Policy

"Chrishenry". Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

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#18

Player: Tank Johnson

Team: Chicago Bears/Dallas Cowboys

Year: 2007

Suspension: 8 Game Suspension

Reason: Following an arrest for gun-related charges while with the Bears, Johnson was suspended for 8 games. Following a second run in with the law, Johnson was released by the Bears and signed with the Cowboys. He served his 8 games with the Cowboys.

Photo Credit: "Tank Johnson at 2010 training camp" by Navin Rajagopalan

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#17

Player: Jonathan Vilma

Team: New Orleans Saints

Year: 2012

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: Bountygate - Besides the head coach and GM, Vilma took the brunt of the suspension for Bountygate following accusations that he offered to pay $10,000 for any teammate that injured Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

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#16

Player: Josh Brent

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Year: 2014

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: In a sad story, Brent was driving under the influence with teammate Jerry Brown when he crashed his car - killing Brown. Brent was charged with murder. Upon returning to the league after serving time in prison, he was suspended 10 games. He would later leave the league to focus on his personal health.

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#15

Player: Frank Alexander

Team: Carolina Panthers

Year: 2014

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: 2nd Violation in 1 year of League's Performance Enhancing Drugs Policy

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#14

Player: LaRon Landry

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Year: 2015

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: Violation of League's Performance Enhancing Drugs Policy

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#13

Player: Greg Hardy

Team: Carolina Panthers

Year: 2014, 2015

Suspension: 15 games (2014), 10 Games (2015)

Reason: Violation of Personal Conduct Policy - Accused of domestic assault 

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#12

Player: Koren Robinson 

Team: Green Bay Packers

Year: 2006

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 3rd Violation of League's Substance Abuse Policy - High Speed Car Chase that led to arrest

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#11

Player: Daryl Washington

Team: Arizona Cardinals 

Year: 2014

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 2nd Violation of NFL's Substance Policy

Photo Credit: "Daryl Washington" by Broderick Delaney - Flickr

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#10

Player: Dion Jordan

Team: Miami Dolphins

Year: 2015

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 3rd Violation of NFL's Performance Enhancing Substance Policy

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#9

Player: Donte Stallworth

Team: Cleveland Browns

Year: 2009

Suspension: Suspended for 1 Season

Reason: Plead Guilty to DUI Manslaughter

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#8

Player: Adam Jones

Team: Tennessee Titans

Year: 2007

Suspension: One Year Suspension

Reason: Violation of NFL Player Conduct Policy (First player in 44 years to be suspended for a reason other than substance abuse.)

Photo Credit: "Adam Pacman Jones" by emeybee - Own work. 

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#7

Player: Ricky Williams

Team: Miami Dolphins

Year: 2006

Suspension: Suspended for one season (2006)

Reason: 4th Violation of NFL Drug Policy

Photo Credit: Chris J. Nelson

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#6

Player: Josh Gordon

Team: Cleveland Browns

Year: 2015, 2014

Suspension: One Year (2015), 10 Games (2014)

Reason: Arrested for DWI in 2014, Tested Positive for Alcohol Use (2015) -3 Violations of League's Substance Abuse Policy

Image: "Josh Gordon 2014 Browns Training Camp" by Erik Daniel Drost - Flickr. 

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#5

Player: Fred Davis

Team: Washington Redskins

Year: 2014

Suspension: Indefinite Suspension (Reinstated for 2015 Season - Signed with New England Patriots)

Reason: Failed Drug Tests in 2011, Failed Drug Tests in 2013

Photo:"Fred davis 2010" by Keith Allison on Flickr

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#4

Player: Michael Vick

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Year: 2007, 2008

Suspension: 2 year suspension

Reason: Violation of Player Conduct Policy - Involvement in Bad Newz Kennel Dog fighting investigation

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#3

Player: Justin Blackmon

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Year: 2013

Suspension: Suspended Indefinetly

Reason: Violated League's Substance Abuse and Drug Policy twice in 2013, arrested for marijuana possession in 2014.

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#2

Player: Tanard Jackson

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

Year: 2010, 2014

Suspension: Suspended Indefinetly

Reason: Violations of NFL Drug Policy

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#1

Player: Odell Thurman

Team: Cincinatti Bengals

Year: 2006, 2007, 2008

Suspension: Suspended for 2006 and 2007 season, Indefinetly suspended in 2008

Reason: Failed two drug tests in three seasons, arrested for DUI, arrested for assault (broke a man's jaw).

 
 

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