Posted by  Michael Harris, Oldsmar on 07/06  at  03:35 PM

Agree to some respect.  You can’t leave discipline to a team for the very reason’s you outlined.  I prefer the zero tolerance approach of a strong commissioner.  But they should wait until all the horses are in the barn and then come down hard if it’s deserved.  No one ever talks about the John Lynch’s and Derrick Brook’s and Barber twins, guys that play by the rules and NEVER get into any trouble, because they know what a privilege it is to play in the NFL.  They aren’t over paid punks, pushing the envelop to its limits.  Let’s talk football from now on and let the Commish handle the punishment or banishment.

Posted by  Kendall Thompson, Nashville, TN on 07/06  at  11:52 AM

Michael, you missed my point entirely.  I’m not saying he shouldn’t be disciplined.  What I’m saying is that it should be consistent, and that it should be a team decision.  I used the Tank Johnson to show how this supposed crackdown on problem behavior only works when it’s in the best interest of the team.  If they were taking the high ground that many of you perceive that the league is taking, there would be no more Shawn Merriman, Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Chris Henry or Torrie Cox.  So why are most of these players still with their teams?  Production over morality.  Rose colored or not, at least I SEE what’s going on Mike.  Look deeper.

Posted by  Michael Harris, Oldsmar on 07/06  at  04:34 AM

Hey Kendall, you might wanna remove those rose colored glasses you’re wearing.  The NFL is not a Democracy, it’s a dictatorship run by ONE commissioner.  They have their own Bill of Rights.  Based on the Constitution, you’re right.  But fahgitaboutit in the NFL…it’s the way of the Commish or nothing.  Teams do have morals clauses in contracts.  A player needs to be careful about being out and about at 2:30 a.m.  If it looks like a frog, leaps like a frog and croaks like a frog, it’s probably a frog.  IOW if someone is out on the roads that late, UNLESS they work at a hospital, what would you think they were doing if you were a cop:  coming home from Bible study?

Posted by  Kendall Thompson, Nashville, TN on 07/05  at  11:34 AM

If Cox is gone, it needs to be a team decision based on teams needs, depth, salary cap and his performance relative to character issues.  That’s a decision Gruden and Allen need to make.  Not hypocritical fans and not people who don’t even know what the full extent of the charges are.  The league keeps those vague on purpose.

Posted by  Kendall Thompson, Nashville, TN on 07/05  at  11:29 AM

I don’t have a problem with the league giving Cox the suspension, the problem I have is with the hypocritical fans who rush to end someone’s future over things that many of THEM have done.  If he violates the league policy, he deserved the punishment.  I never said that he didn’t.  Goodell’s policy of suspensions before convictions could come back and bite him in the butt. For example; when it benefitted them, (Super Bowl) Chicago was the most supportive team in the world to Tank Johnson.  However, when he was no longer a critical need, (Tommy Harris returned) He was an embarrassment for a speeding ticket.  But was not for a weapons charge????  I don’t see morality, but hypocricy.

Posted by  Rich Olson, New Jersey on 07/05  at  07:11 AM

Dumb, just flat out dumb. He got what he had coming to him from the NFL. I don’t feel asory for anyone who voilates this policy.

Posted by  Michael Harris, Oldsmar on 07/05  at  05:45 AM

But Kendall people are arrested for DUI daily;  and that gets published in the paper too.  First of all, these NFL guys need to live at a higher standard, agree?  The new commissioner sees it that way.  Zero tolerance is his motto.  Secondly, Cox has been in trouble before.  He’s known as a hot head.  Third, have you seen major play improvement from him?  Nope!  Roster spots need to be held almost as sacred.  There are PLENTY of players OUT there who can easily replace THIS nobody player.  Remember, only 1536 players in the entire world, dress for the NFL on Sunday.  Cox should consider himself lucky to be one of those and act accordingly.  IOW: Grow up!

Posted by  ken chance, inverness fl on 07/04  at  02:20 PM

in civilian life he would be in jail.  in NFL life he will be playing oct 6th.

Posted by  Kendall Thompson, Nashville, Tn on 07/04  at  01:49 PM

If some of you average joes were to lose your job for an out of the workplace incident, you wouldn’t be so quick to judge.  Unless you are a truck driver or operate heavy machinery, the thousands of people annually who quietly have dui arrests go through life in anonymity.  And unless they kill someone, they are are not held accountable.  Which brings me back to this:  drunk fans who go to SEE the games, tailgate and drive home are just as irresponsible, but you don’t get the press.  I hope Torrie Cox gets help because he has a problem, but killing his career over it is silly.  And a lot of you calling for his dismissal, think back to the times when you COULD’VE been caught with a D.U.I. and hush. Let the team handle team business.

Posted by  Steven Small, Ontario CA. on 07/04  at  10:15 AM

I think your translation is weak.

Posted by  Michael Harris, Oldsmar on 07/04  at  09:47 AM

Sheeese Valenti, go to Oprah!  Seriously though!  I haven’t seen much improvement in Cox in three years.  Cut him!  He’s cost the Bucs on some big mistakes.  The question to ask is: does his value equal his cost?

Posted by  John Anthony Valenti, Tampa on 07/03  at  05:31 PM

Roger Goodell is off to a stellar start as the new NFL Commisioner, already etching his name as one to be remembered. It’s so refreshing to see a man of morals take over his sport and bring a sense of responsibility to his athletes. Whether or not these men want to be role models, they are, and the gritty rough game of football can be played at a high level without players being ‘thugs’ or ‘edgy. Players such as John Lynch and Emmitt Smith are pure examples of that. Thank you, Mr. Goodell for atleast attempting to show young athletes how to be ‘stand-up’ men.

Posted by  Ted Haines, Tampa on 07/03  at  04:26 PM

A DUI arrest in 2004.  A DUI arrest in 2005.  A reckless driving arrest in 2005.  (source:  www.hcso.tampa.fl.us)

Now, a substance abuse suspension in 2007. 

I realize the Bucs’ “family” is very nuturing and care so much about their players.  Yeah right! 

It just goes to show, good special teamers are hard to find.

Posted by  tim stone, dover on 07/03  at  03:44 PM

on one hand, It seems to me, that the desision to intoxicate oneself should be left up to that individual unless they display a clear inability to control thier behavior or rate of said consumption. On the other hand, When you sign a contract saying that you will not intoxicate yourself with a given list of intoxicants and they pay you a huge amount of money (in most peoples eyes) so that you will not do it,I fail to have any sympathy for his plight. couple this with the fact that this occupation is highly watched by children and teens. I don’t think we need to wait for three strikes. hoping that he will over come this personal setback translates into( too valuable of a player to let go). nice ethics bruce.