The Albert Haynesworth Punishment Thread - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

capitalcity · 10-01-2006, 02:52 PM

I've seen hitting, spitting, poking, kicking, kneeing, butting... But I've never ever seen anything as malicious as the Haynesworth head stomp. Just criminal, and that's the bottom line.

Anything less than 5 games and $500,000 punishment will be outright negligent. And how about the notion of police intervention in lieu of what can only be described as an assault with cleats.

Time for the new commish to step up and establish what is what. Suspend that immediately.

nashtymavsfan13 · 10-01-2006, 03:45 PM

Definetly deserves a long suspension and a hefty fine, he can't get away with something like that.

Darth Ape · 10-01-2006, 04:45 PM

there needs to be consideration for criminal charges. Does anyone remember that hockey player who whacked someone's head? I'm pretty sure he was charged with a crime.

nah-vit-ski · 10-01-2006, 04:58 PM

when i first saw that i thought, "wow this guy is relly a piece of"

I hope he has to sit some games and sends a big fat check to Roger Godell.

Male30Dan · 10-01-2006, 05:23 PM

My poor wife had to watch that like 10 times as I rewinded over and over while saying curse words under my breath. I will tell you the same thing I told her... He should be suspended for the WHOLE $##%$$#%$# YEAR!!! I hope that from his fines and missed games that he plays this year for free... What a bastard!

untitled · 10-01-2006, 05:47 PM

From ESPN.com

Updated: Oct. 1, 2006, 6:39 PM ET
Haynesworth tossed for stomping on Gurode's face

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was ejected early in the third quarter of the Titans game against the Cowboys after he stomped on Dallas center Andre Gurode's face.

According the EPSN's Ed Werder, Gurode took nearly two dozen stitches to close seven separate facial cuts, but his eyes were not injured. Titans coach Jeff Fisher apologized to the Cowboys' Bill Parcells after the game on behalf of the Tennessee organization and vowed to punish Haynesworth if the league doesn't do so appropriately.

Julius Jones had just scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, putting Dallas ahead 20-6. Gurode's helmet came off, and Haynesworth, standing over him, used his right foot and stomped Gurode's head.

AP Photo/ John Russell
"I let my team down," the Titans' Albert Haynesworth said of his stomp on Cowboys center Andre Gurode's face.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2609563

Five-ofan · 10-01-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Male23Dan

My poor wife had to watch that like 10 times as I rewinded over and over while saying curse words under my breath. I will tell you the same thing I told her... He should be suspended for the WHOLE $##%$$#%$# YEAR!!! I hope that from his fines and missed games that he plays this year for free... What a bastard!

i AGREE. i dont think he will get quite that much but fisher may be the one coach in the nfl who truly would give him a serious penalty even if the nfl doesnt.

dirno2000 · 10-01-2006, 06:08 PM

I was watching the game with my old man and his feeling was the Haynesworth should be suspended for the rest of the season. He said that a lot of people would be surprised at how nasty it gets in the trenches but you never take it to that level.

I'm just glad that Gurode's eyes are ok. If the cleats make contact a couple of inches lower, that could have ended his career.

Five-ofan · 10-01-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

I was watching the game with my old man and his feeling was the Haynesworth should be suspended for the rest of the season. He said that a lot of people would be surprised at how nasty it gets in the trenches but you never take it to that level.

I'm just glad that Gurode's eyes are ok. If the cleats make contact a couple of inches lower, that could have ended his career.

I was watching it with a friend and her dad. He said the same thing. Then again, your dad saying it carries a great deal more weight.

MavKikiNYC · 10-01-2006, 06:13 PM

I'll be surprised if he's out more than 3. NFLPA.

Hope Gurode sues Haynesworth.

dirno2000 · 10-01-2006, 06:23 PM

Yea, I don't know if the league has to power to suspend him for the season. It they tried, it would surely go to arbitration.

As I recall from the TO situation, the Eagles could only suspend him for 2 games without pay...or was it 4?

nashtymavsfan13 · 10-01-2006, 06:23 PM

Fisher is a great coach, and if the league doesn't do enough, he'll take it into his own hands. I think it was a nice gesture by him to apologize to Parcells on behalf of the organization.

2 dozens stitches, and a chance of ending a guys career had it been a little lower and all Haynesworth says iis "I let my team down today"? Wow....

Five-ofan · 10-01-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

Yea, I don't know if the league has to power to suspend him for the season. It they tried, it would surely go to arbitration.

I do know that i wouldnt want to be him next time they play the cowboys when they play a team andre gurode is on again. I would be chop blocking the hell out of him if i was gurode next time i saw him.

Ninkobei · 10-01-2006, 08:50 PM

It was really impressive on how the other Cowboys handled themselves when they looked down and saw Gurode on the ground in obvious pain. I imagine it was tough to not smash in Haynesworth's face at that particular moment, especially if they saw what he did with their own eyes.

chumdawg · 10-01-2006, 09:10 PM

My punishment would be four games. It was ugly, but hey, these guys play a violent game. Let's not turn into Girl Scouts here.

Rhylan · 10-01-2006, 09:26 PM

Agree with chum.. I'm thinking 4 games. But yeah, I can't remember seeing anything quite that overtly malicious, like most of you. Wouldn't bother me one bit if he was suspended for the remainder of the season.

In the words of Billy Madison, "That's assault, brotha!"

Ninkobei · 10-01-2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

My punishment would be four games. It was ugly, but hey, these guys play a violent game. Let's not turn into Girl Scouts here.

Correction, they get payed a shtton of cash to play a rough contact sport. This isnt the World Wrestling Federation. If the NFL cant issue suitable punishment in order to protect many of America's millionares, I cant see why anyone would want to play the game any more. If they were to let this incident slide, what motivation would there be for other players not to vent their frustration on the opposing team? What good is making a lot of money if you have to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair because some jackass gets pissed off at your team for scoring a touchdown.

Bookit · 10-01-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

My punishment would be four games. It was ugly, but hey, these guys play a violent game. Let's not turn into Girl Scouts here.

What he did wasn't part of the game. Didn't Michael Vick's brother get kicked off his college team for stomping on a guy's leg? Well, Haynesworth stomped on Gurode's face! He could be suspended for 6 or more games imo.

jly · 10-01-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

Yea, I don't know if the league has to power to suspend him for the season. It they tried, it would surely go to arbitration.

As I recall from the TO situation, the Eagles could only suspend him for 2 games without pay...or was it 4?

i believe it's 4 games.

i think haynesworth should be out for the season. if my memory serves me correctly, from the highlights it appears that haynesworth ripped gurode's helmet off first, then came back to stomp on him.

dirno2000 · 10-01-2006, 10:40 PM

That’s what made it so heinous. I would feel different about the whole thing if Gurode’s helmet was already off and Haynesworth saw it and stepped on him. I’d probably say a game or two. Instead Haynesworth pulled off the helmet, stepped on him then, when it was clear that Gurode couldn’t defend himself, stepped on him a second time.

mary · 10-01-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

My punishment would be four games. It was ugly, but hey, these guys play a violent game. Let's not turn into Girl Scouts here.

That's a fairly broad sprectrum, don't ya think?

What Haynesworth did had nothing to do with football.

rabbitproof · 10-01-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary

What Haynesworth did had nothing to do with football.

So true. I never even saw something that bad in rugby. I've seen (and played) with/against people who will step on a down man's hand, jump on them cleat-first, kick their stomach - all to lodge a ball out - but to stomp on someone's head?

And after the play? You're not trying to make a play - you're trying to injure someone maliciously. Why not just bring a mallet onto the field?

Carolina Blue · 10-01-2006, 10:58 PM

He should get at least 20 mins in timeout and lose all tv privileges for a week...

Kids today...pshhhh...

chumdawg · 10-01-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary

That's a fairly broad sprectrum, don't ya think?

What Haynesworth did had nothing to do with football.

Between the whistles they do things--and make no mistake, we all pay lots of dollars to watch them do things--that are fiercely violent and in some cases prematurely end careers. Aikman probably could have played a few more years if he didn't have the likes of LaVar Arrington giving him concussions. Roy Williams has, by himself, passed out several injuries far more severe than 30 stitches on the forehead. And you know what? Those plays make year-end highlight films. The NFL packages and sells them.

What Haynesworth did was terribly unsportsmanlike and deserves punishment. A lot of punishment. Maybe as many as six games (though I think that's high). But I do give him a pass on the "nothing to do with football" thing. It happened in the context of the game. In the context of a very physical, sometimes violent game. It's nowhere near excusable, but it's understandable. I'm sure emotions run high.

I doubt Gurode bears him a lot of ill will. I bet he would have liked to have lined up across from him again, if his forehead wasn't gushing blood. If anyone is like boxers, I bet it's linemen.

mary · 10-01-2006, 11:06 PM

Quote:

"What I did out there was disgusting," Haynesworth said. "It doesn't matter what the league does to me. The way I feel right now, you just can't describe it."

He's probably going to go home tonight and have himself a "T.O. Special"

mary · 10-01-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Roy Williams has, by himself, passed out several injuries far more severe than 30 stitches on the forehead. And you know what? Those plays make year-end highlight films. The NFL packages and sells them.

As far as I know, all Roy Williams-induced injuries have happened in the context of the game, during a play. I expect that most people, including myself, can differentiate between something like a horse-collar tackle and kicking a man's bare head with your cleats.

According to Gurode, this type of thing DOES NOT happen all the time. Here's his quote.

Quote:

In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode said.

alby · 10-01-2006, 11:10 PM

nfl on nbc said 4 games would be adequate

chumdawg · 10-01-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary

As far as I know, all Roy Williams-induced injuries have happened in the context of the game, during a play. I expect that most people, including myself, can differentiate between something like a horse-collar tackle and kicking a man's bare head with your cleats.

According to Gurode, this type of thing DOES NOT happen all the time. Here's his quote.

Well of course it doesn't happen all the time. It's very, very rare! But I don't think the guy is some sort of monster. As you point out, even he himself was terribly embarrassed by his actions after the fact.

I'm just saying that it happened in the heat of battle, so to speak, even if it didn't happen between the whistles. You watch enough football and you see a lot of extracurriculars. Fine him for it, suspend him for it, but don't go overboard and don't call it assault. Context is important.

capitalcity · 10-01-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

adequate

Your word or theirs?

chumdawg · 10-01-2006, 11:30 PM

Peter King on "Football Night in America" or whatever it's called said a fine of about $25,000 but no suspension.

I highly doubt that. Mo-fo is getting suspended.

Male30Dan · 10-02-2006, 06:49 AM

Chum... I know you are the old school dude on the block, and you and I have tangoed as a result, but I just have one question for you...

What if those cleats catch the eyes of Gurode? What length of suspsension is valid then if the guy can't lace em up anymore?

Bottom line Chum, Albert could have ended Andre's career. Dude could have been out FOREVER. That should at least make this Fer play for free this year. Make him send week 5-17 game checks back to the league AND pay a fine that eqauls his salary between weeks 1-4.

That was the WORST I HAVE EVER SEEN during a game. Someone mentioned a brawl between Indy and someone else, but I don't think I have seen a clip of that. But to reach down and rip a helmet off, stomp once, and then stomp again SMACK DOWN ON HIS FACE IN THE EXACT VICINITY OF A MANS EYES is absolutely ridiculous and should never be considered "in the context" or "understandable". It is absolutely NOT understandable and absolutely NOT within the context of this game.

He was getting his ass handed to him by Gurode and decided to assault another man rather than get even on the field. Call that girl scouts if you will, but again, what if he catches his eyes?

Shouldn't the league impose a fine so great and a suspension so great that we never find the answer to that question???

mary · 10-02-2006, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Well of course it doesn't happen all the time. It's very, very rare! But I don't think the guy is some sort of monster. As you point out, even he himself was terribly embarrassed by his actions after the fact.

Oh I don't think he's some sort of monster either, moron maybe, but not a monster. In fact, I would imagine that a majority of human beings who do something that heinous (especially if its caught on camera for the world to see) most likely feel some level of regret afterwards.

But I don't think that has anything to do with the NFL handing out the appropriate punishment. His punishment should fit the severity of his actions. There are people incarcerated every day who are not "monsters", yet the law dictates that we remove them from society based on their actions - not on the strength of their character, not on their level of regret, and not on the level of stress they were under while commiting their crime.

I think when you take the field as a football player, violent as that sport is, its up to you to be responsible enough not to stomp on someone's bare head while they are lying helpless on the ground. I know it was in the "heat of battles" and all those other cliches, but if that's a situation a professional athlete can not handle without trying to potentionally maim or kill someone, then I seriously question whether that person should be allowed back on the field at all.

If he'd only stepped on him once, there could've been some doubt about his intentions, or whether or not he realized Gurode didn't have his helmet on. If that were the case, I think I'd be more inclined to agree with your "old school" approach to this.

Male30Dan · 10-02-2006, 08:19 AM

Albert actually had a very sincere apology that I heard on Mike and Mike this morning. I believe him when he said he is sorry, but that doesn't change my opinion of his suspension.

I hope he is gone for the year so it teaches everyone else never to do that type of thing again. He seems to know better than to ever do it again, but a spat on the hand won't teach the other guys never to do it.

sike · 10-02-2006, 10:06 AM

4 games minimum...

Flacolaco · 10-02-2006, 10:28 AM

I think the amount of the fine should be the severe part.

These people only seem to care about money these days....

kg_veteran · 10-02-2006, 10:29 AM

The NFL does sort of send conflicting messages. They want the violent hits that Chum referred to, because they make for great highlight reel plays and sell lots of tickets. On the other hand, they fine defensive players arbitrarily for striking the quarterback a certain way or being a little late on a hit.

That said, what Haynesworth did deserves suspension. Heck if I know how long, but what he did was cowardly, and I think he knows it.

MavsX · 10-02-2006, 10:47 AM

let Haynesworth burn! suspension for 20 years, and 800 million-billion fine. makes sense to me

Five-ofan · 10-02-2006, 10:49 AM

Did any of you see the fujita play on steve smith? It was almost as bad. Hes got to be suspended too. Also, did anyone see the hit on reche caldwell? It was an example of something that is viscous but part of the game. I didnt think it should have been a penalty because it was part of the game but the haynesworth play wasnt.

Flacolaco · 10-02-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kg_veteran

The NFL does sort of send conflicting messages. They want the violent hits that Chum referred to, because they make for great highlight reel plays and sell lots of tickets. On the other hand, they fine defensive players arbitrarily for striking the quarterback a certain way or being a little late on a hit.

That said, what Haynesworth did deserves suspension. Heck if I know how long, but what he did was cowardly, and I think he knows it.

I agree. They want that big crunch sound to come across the tv, but only if you do it right.

I feel bad for some of them on the late hit penalties sometimes. When they get moving as fast as they do, hitting someone is probably the most attractive way for them to stop themselves. They're so big. thats a lot momentum.

Five-ofan · 10-02-2006, 11:29 AM

I still cant believe no one has mentioned the fujita thing, it was extremely close to being as bad. He was trying to end Smiths season and maybe career. I liked fujita but if he isnt suspended for 4 weeks, thats a joke too.

If you have no clue what Im talking about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhgrqETk_JQ

I dont care what troy said, that was clearly intentional.