On April 10, 2007, the National Football League (NFL) introduced a new conduct policy to help control on and off-field behavior by its players and preserve the league's public image.Associated Press. Goodell strengthens NFL player conduct policy USA Today, April 10, 2007. The policy, introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, implements a tougher, new personal-conduct policy, and under conditions of the previous policy handed down two of the harshest suspensions in NFL history for off-field misdeeds.Bell, Jarrett. Conduct unbecoming: NFL sets new standard with suspensions USA Today, April 11, 2007. Each player that has been suspended must reapply for reinstatement.CB Jones suspended for 2007 season, WR Henry banned eight games Yahoo Sports Ticker, April 10, 2007. The policy only applies to the player's personal lives and image in the public spotlight. The NFL conducts separate investigations for drug and alcohol abuse and performance enhancement.
History "It is important that the NFL be represented consistently by outstanding people as well as great football players, coaches, and staff. We hold ourselves to higher standards of responsible conduct because of what it means to be part of the National Football League. We have long had policies and programs designed to encourage responsible behavior, and this policy is a further step in ensuring that everyone who is part of the NFL meets that standard. We will continue to review the policy and modify it as warranted." ~Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League On September 1, 2006, some days prior to the start of the 2006 NFL season, Roger Goodell assumed the office of Commissioner of the NFL. Goodell was met with expectations of enforcing the NFL's image to the media. In the months leading up to Goodell's ascension, nine players from the Cincinnati Bengals had been arrested.Wilner, Barry. (Associated Press) Goodell gets tough, protects NFL brand Boston Globe, April 10, 2007. Goodell and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) decided that teams will be responsible for the conduct of their employees, and will be subject to discipline for any transgressions.
Goodell had consulted with Gene Upshaw, former executive director of the NFLPA, and also created a six-man player advisory committee to discuss conduct, discipline and other topics.
The first players to feel the teeth of the new policy were Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, college teammates at West Virginia whose first two years in the NFL were marred by arrests. The third player suspended was Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson. On August 24, 2007, Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Vick filed a plea agreement and pleaded guilty in his involvement in illegal dog fighting and euthanization, and was suspended indefinitely without pay; his reinstatement occurred in time for him to play in the 2009–2010 season.
List of significant suspensions
Date(s) suspendedReasonSuspension lengthNamePositionTeam at the time of suspension April 10, 2007Battery, uttering death threat, felony coercionEntire 2007 seasonAdam "Pacman" JonesCornerbackTennessee TitansAggravated assault with a firearm, allowing female minors alcohol, driving while drunk, assault, etc.First 8 games of 2007 seasonChris HenryWide receiverCincinnati BengalsJune 4, 2007Possession of concealed weapon, possession of unlawful assault rifles and other, some loaded, firearms in his home with children presentFirst 8 games of 2007 seasonTerry "Tank" JohnsonDefensive tackleChicago BearsAugust 24, 2007 – July 27, 2009Promoting, funding, and facilitating a dog fighting ring on his property, hanging and drowning dogs who did not perform well, failure to cooperate fully with police, etc.First 2 regular games of 2009 seasonMichael VickQuarterbackAtlanta FalconsOctober 14, 2008Fighting with his bodyguardIndefinite, ultimately 4 games Adam "Pacman" JonesCornerbackDallas CowboysAugust 13, 2009DUI manslaughterEntire 2009 seasonDonté StallworthWide receiverCleveland BrownsApril 21, 2010Sexual assault allegationFirst 6 games of 2010 season, then reduced to 4 gamesBen RoethlisbergerQuarterbackPittsburgh SteelersSeptember 8, 2014Arrest for domestic violence/aggravated assaultInitially 2 games, then increased to indefinetly only to be overturned two months laterRay RiceRunning backBaltimore Ravens
Suspended players Adam "Pacman" Jones
Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, facing felony charges in two states, was suspended for the entire 2007 season and given specific conditions to meet before he is reinstated, and he can be reinstated after the Titans' eleventh game. There were 10 occasions in which Jones was interviewed by police, the most recent during the NBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. Police there recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and shooting at what Jones refers to as a "strip club", which left one man paralyzed. Jones later appealed his suspension,NFL Suspends Pacman Jones, Bengals' Henry NFL.com, April 10, 2007. saying he was "just being rebellious", but withdrew the request weeks later.Pacman Jones drops appeal, Sports Illustrated, June 12, 2007. On June 20, 2007, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Clark County District Attorney's office announced that Jones will face two felony charges stemming from the strip club melee that occurred on February 19, 2007.Pacman faces felony charges in shooting that paralyzed man ESPN.com, June 20, 2007. While the charges have since been dropped, Jones still faces civil actions, and his reinstatement was not to be considered until after the 2008 Pro Bowl. On June 2, 2008, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cleared Jones to participate in preseason workouts for the Dallas Cowboys, who had traded for him during his suspension, and also said that a decision on Jones' reinstatement for the regular season would be made by September 1, six days before the Cowboys' first 2008 regular-season game. The league announced at that time that Jones' full reinstatement would depend on "demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner." On August 26 Jones found himself fully reinstated, only to be suspended indefinitely on October 14 after an altercation with his bodyguard in a Dallas hotel.
Chris Henry
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, was arrested five times in three states between December 2005 and April 2008,Bengals cut Henry, say they'll no longer tolerate his conduct ESPN.com, April 3, 2008. was suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season. He also had to comply with several conditions before returning. Henry was arrested four times in a 14-month span, and received a two-game league suspension last year. He was one of nine Bengals arrested in nine months. Henry was required to not get into further trouble with the law and had to cooperate fully with required counseling, education and treatment assigned to him under league programs.
Henry returned for the second half of the 2007 season but played a minor role on an 7-9 Bengals team. In April 2008, the Bengals released Henry after he was charged with misdemeanor and criminal damaging. He was accused of punching an 18-year-old male in the face and breaking a window in the individual's car. A warrant for Henry's arrest was issued and he surrendered the following day, a police spokesman said. In August 2008, the Bengals re-signed Henry. On December 17, 2009, Henry died from injuries sustained from an accident stemming from a domestic dispute between him and his fiancée.
Tank Johnson
On April 30, 2007, Terry "Tank" Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge as part of an arrangement with prosecutors that will keep him from serving additional jail time. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, which was served concurrently with a four-month sentence he was already serving in the Cook County Jail for violating his probation; to donate $2,500 to the Gurnee, Illinois Police Department and $2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club's child abuse prevention program.Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty, Avoids More Jail Time CBS2 Chicago.
Johnson's release from jail on May 13 ended his legal problems from the December 2006 weapons incident.Bears' Tank Johnson To Be Released Sunday CBS2 Chicago. The league ultimately suspended Johnson for half of the regular season on June 4.NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension ChicagoBears.com June 4, 2007. However, he will have the opportunity to reduce the sentence to six games if he complies with Commissioner Goodell's guidelines of behavior, which include going to counseling.
On June 22, Johnson was pulled over speeding in Arizona. According to the police, he was stopped by the police after traveling at forty miles per hour in a twenty-five-mile per hour zone. He was later suspected of drinking, but was released without being booked or charged.
On June 25, 2007, Johnson was released from his contract by the Chicago Bears as a result of the June 22 incident. Bears General manager Jerry Angelo stated that he had "no room for error left." The results of Johnson's blood tests were still pending when the Bears made their decision.Tank Johnson stopped by police in Phoenix suburb Yahoo! Sports, June 22, 2007Bears decide to move on, waive Tank Johnson ESPN.com, June 25, 2007. On July 2, it was announced that Johnson was under the legal limit and will not be charged with driving under the influence.
On September 18, 2007, Johnson agreed to terms of a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, but was unable to contact the team until week 9 of the 2007 NFL season.
Michael Vick
Beginning on April 25, 2007, a large house and surrounding property Michael Vick owned in rural Surry County, Virginia where his 26-year-old cousin Davon T. Boddie had been residing became part of a continuing police investigation for possible operation of an illegal dog fighting ring. The action came after police executed a search warrant following two narcotics arrests of Boddie within a week in the Virginia Peninsula cities of Newport News and Hampton (each about away from the Surry County property) earlier in April. Boddie had given the address of Vick's property in Surry County as his home address when arrested. Earlier, in February 2007, Boddie was convicted in the City of Norfolk of disorderly conduct. At that time, he was carrying a Georgia driver's license giving his address as a house in Duluth, Georgia which was once owned by Vick.
According to ESPN, during the April 25 narcotics-related search of Vick's home and property at 1915 Moonlight Drive in the southeastern portion of Surry County, police discovered a large number of animals, and evidence which they felt indicated dog fighting. They called animal-control officers, who saw what they said was evidence that dogfights had taken place there. Police obtained another search warrant, and, with the help of animal control officials from several localities, removed 66 dogs, 55 of them pit bulls, and seized equipment and some physical evidence that could be associated with dog fighting. WAVY-TV reported that detectives also seized guns, illegal ammunition magazines, suspected marijuana and paperwork on dog fighting.
Vick, along with three others, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2007, for "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture".