# Appropriate punishment for Albert Haynesworth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021 "2006-10-02T18:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/21 "2006-10-03T00:10:01Z")
A lifetime ban and criminal charges. What the hell went through the pudding this oaf uses for brains? How in the hell did stomping a helmetless player ever seem like a good idea? This galoot is demented. He should be permanently bannned. Big dumb bastard. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/22 "2006-10-03T02:46:21Z")
Just five games? For that? I don’t give a fuck if it’s the longest suspension ever handed out by the NFL. All that shows is that the NFL has no balls, or that nothing like this has ever happened before (yeah, right!). The NFL should be ashamed of itself. It’s lost all credibilty with this ridiculously light punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/23 "2006-10-03T03:06:28Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] That’s how I feel. An apologist on the NFL network was basically saying cut Haynesworth some slack. He’s a good player, he said he’s sorry and it looks like he means it, he’s never done anything like this before, he was frustrated, yadda yadda. [/QUOTE] Frustrated? Jesus Hieronymus Christ. I was frustrated when I was in line for coffee forever, and then the guy ahead of me ordered some hideously complicated soy latte no whip caramel syrup double espresso shot blah blah drink. I didn’t take off my shoe and shank him in the forehead with the heel. If you feel obliged to wound someone when frustrated, you’ve obviously got some control issues to work out. Five games? I swear people have been out with injuries for longer than that. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/24 "2006-10-03T03:13:06Z")
Suspended without pay for the rest of the season. I think charges SHOULD be filed. Not sure why they’re not. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/25 "2006-10-03T04:08:27Z")
I know I’m going to be slammed, but I was really impressed by his apology. No BS, just admitting it was a really awful thing to do. Suspend him for a lot of games, send him to counseling (roid rage?), but I think banishment is too much. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/26 "2006-10-03T04:11:17Z")
I won’t comment on the punishment, but [here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-4dLBWiz0&mode=related&search=) a Youtube link if you want to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/27 "2006-10-03T05:08:32Z")
Permanent DQ from NFL and I like the idea of doing community service at Dallas camp ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/28 "2006-10-03T05:38:30Z")
I really think everyone is over-reacting here. It was a terrible thing, he needs to be punished, but equally harsh and cruel things happen during a game that aren’t caught on camera. I’ve seen numerous interviews where players confess to eye gouges and groin shots during play and after the whistle. This one was really stupid for it’s obviousness, but I’m not sure it’s so much more heinous than anything else we’ve seen before. I’d have tagged him for an 8-game suspension. That seems pretty appropriate. I’m not willing to toss the guy for life for one stupid thing. He’s entitled to a second chance. Taking away a year when the guys career is probably 10 years maximum feels disproportionate. And for what it’s worth, the fact he has no history of anything like this and his genuine contrition does count for something. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/29 "2006-10-03T07:15:01Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] And for what it’s worth, the fact he has no history of anything like this and his genuine contrition does count for something. [/QUOTE] According to this [article](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061003/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_titans_haynesworth_suspended_12) he has a history of bad behavior > [@](#): > > Haynesworth’s previous problems had been hidden from attention because they took place in practice. As a sophomore at Tennessee, he fought with a teammate and left practice, returning with a long pole looking for tackle Will Ofenheusle before coach Phillip Fulmer stopped him. He was suspended for half a game. > > During 2003 Titans training camp, Haynesworth kicked center Justin Hartwig, now with Carolina. Charges for a road rage incident earlier this year were dismissed. Gurode is considering pressing charges. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/30 "2006-10-03T13:57:17Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] …groin shots… [/QUOTE] Yuk. I bet those taste terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/31 "2006-10-03T14:11:01Z")
I think the 5 games was appropriate. As silly as this sounds, since there was no real precedent set for disciplining this kind of thing, you can really only hand out a suspension in line with what’s been handed out before. He got 2.5 times as much suspension as Martin did. . .the only real precendent we have. Haynesworth COULD argue, “if I knew it would have been 8 games, I wouldn’t have done it”. (that would take stones the size of basketballs to argue, but he COULD argue that) Given that the punishment was the longest ever for this kind of thing, I don’t view this as the league being soft at all, quite the opposite, in fact. And, it sort of indicates that Tagliabue kind of handed Upshaw’s leash to Goodell. Furthermore, I suspect the decision not to appeal was Haynesworth’s, not Fisher’s. In my opinion, and other’s I’ve seen, Haynesworth was sincerely contrite, apologetic, and embarassed after the game. He did not look like a man who was going to appeal. Besides, if a player or the NFLPA thought that he should appeal and the coach said, “no, don’t appeal”, the NFLPA would come down on that furiously. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/32 "2006-10-03T14:13:17Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] And for what it’s worth, the fact he has no history of anything like this and his genuine contrition does count for something. [/QUOTE] “Genuine contrition” my ass. The only reason that it seemed like genuine contrition, i’ll wager, is that someone took him aside and told him he was on the verge of losing his lucrative livelihood. I’d be contrite, too, if i thought i was going to lose a 7 figure income. If you’re the sort of person who is going to be genuinely contrite about stomping a player in the face with cleats, then you’re also the sort of person who doesn’t stomp people in the face with cleats in the first place. I’m sick of this notion that we forgive sports stars and other famous people anything they do, so long as they hold an appropriately fawning press conference. > [@Snooooopy](#): > > The article indicates that Haynesworth is not going to appeal the punishment. > > I don’t credit Haynesworth with the brains to make such an appropriate decision. I imagine Coach Fisher summoned him to his office and said, “You will NOT appeal.” I’m sure you’re right about that. I don’t like Fisher much, be he seemed really outraged about the incident. Now the NFL Players’ Association needs to get its [head out of its ass](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2610577): > [@](#): > > Titans coach Jeff Fisher indicated that Haynesworth would not appeal the decision; however, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen spoke with NFL Players Association president Gene Upshaw who said he would challenge the penalty because of its unprecedented length. So what if the length is unprecedented. You don’t have to appeal just because of that. Ask yourself if the punishment fits the crime. If the reactions on this board, and on ESPN and other sports talk shows is any indication, most people feel that Haynesworth got off light. The Players’ Association isn’t going to make any friends appealing this decision. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/33 "2006-10-03T14:20:43Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Yuk. I bet those taste terrible. [/QUOTE] Great. Gatorade all over my keyboard. Thanks, **lieu**. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/34 "2006-10-03T14:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] Gurode is considering pressing charges. [/QUOTE] And that’s the important part. The NFL can suspend or DQ him for as long as it likes. But for all those calling for criminal charges that’s totally outside the league’s ability. Gurode would need to pursue that. I suppose a DA could push for it but if Gurode doesn’t want to it’s unlikely to get very far. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/35 "2006-10-03T14:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] …(roid rage?)… [/QUOTE] That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this. Wonder if he got tested afterward. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/36 "2006-10-03T15:37:16Z")
Roid rage was my first thought. The local police chief said that they were ready arrest Haynesworth but Gurode hadn’t pressed charges. I definitely think criminal charges are in order. This kind of behaviour is utterly disgraceful and should be harshly penalized in all cases, not just those which make the national news. StG ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/37 "2006-10-03T17:50:09Z")
[QUOTE=Kizarvexius] Great. Gatorade all over my keyboard. Thanks, **lieu**. 😛 [/QUOTE] Congratulations are in order for your keyboard, then. What championship did it win? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/38 "2006-10-03T18:15:17Z")
What I don’t get about the NFLPA is that they seem more concerned about the suspended player thatn the player who got assaulted. Shouldn’t they really be, “We think the penalty is not enough. One of our primary concerns is the safety and welfare of our members and we think the NFL should be sending a clear message n that regard.” ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/39 "2006-10-03T18:45:42Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Congratulations are in order for your keyboard, then. What championship did it win? [/QUOTE] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021/40 "2006-10-03T19:10:35Z")
That’s monstrous. He should have been hauled off the field in handcuffs. Doesn’t some kind of morals clause come into play here? Shouldn’t he be fired and jailed? Shouldn’t he die alone and penniless in a gutter? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-punishment-for-albert-haynesworth/375021.md?page=3)