Tennessee's Haynesworth suspended 5 games for stomping on lineman's head

Yahoo - AP ^ | 10/02/06 | TERESA M. WALKER

[Borges]

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was given a five-game suspension -- the longest for on-field behavior in NFL history -- for stomping on Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head and kicking him in the face Sunday.

The NFL said Monday that Haynesworth was suspended for flagrant unnecessary roughness. The suspension, which is without pay, is effective immediately. Haynesworth will be eligible to return Nov. 19 for the Titans' game at Philadelphia.

"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Haynesworth was penalized and ejected from the game early in the third quarter after stomped on Gurode's head, causing his helmet to pop off, then kicking him again following a 5-yard touchdown run by Julius Jones of the Cowboys.

Gurode received stitches above his forehead and beneath his eye.

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

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Haynesworth's actions were unacceptable.

"I felt there needed to be some serious action taken from a discipline standpoint, and I believe that what the league has done right now is adequate," Fisher said.

Jones had just scored on a 5-yard run, putting Dallas up 20-6 in what wound up as a 45-14 victory. Gurode said they hadn't been talking or having any exchanges that led to Haynesworth kicking him twice.

"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.

Before Monday, the longest suspension for on-field behavior was two games for Green Bay defensive lineman Charles Martin for throwing Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon to the ground during a game on Nov. 23, 1986. McMahon landed on his shoulder.

It's the first suspension since 2002 Rodney Harrison, then with San Diego, was suspended one game for hitting Oakland's Jerry Rice with his helmet. Earlier that season, Denver's Kenoy Kennedy was suspended for a game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Chris Chambers of Miami.

[JustaCowgirl]

I agree. If they let that pass, someone will soon be killed in an NFL game.

[Petronski]

Five games?

The NFL is a sickening f***ing joke to go only this far. Disgusting.

He deserves expulsion, plus felony criminal charges and a gigantic civil suit.

[Old Professer]

I watched that debacle; I live here in Nashville and if I were Bud Adams, I'd fire him and blackball him -- he'd never play again.

Never have I seen a team go in the toilet like the Titans the last three years and I hate sports.

Steve McNair looks more like Brer Rabbit every day.

[Petronski]

"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "But, he's welcome back in October! Everyone smile!"

[Libloather]

Albert Haynesworth of the Tennessee Titans reacts after a tackle against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at LP Field, 01 October 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee. Haynesworth was slapped with a record five game suspension for stomping on the head of Dallas cente Andre Gurode in the third quarter of Sunday's game. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Harry How)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (92) watches as head coach Jeff Fisher talks with officials after Haynesworth was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from the Titans' football game against the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, in Nashville, Tenn. Haynesworth stepped on the head of Cowboys defender Andre Gurode after Gurode lost his helmet. (AP Photo/ John Russell)

Dallas Cowboys lineman Andre Gurode holds ice to his head after Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth stepped on him, after Gurode lost his helmet, in the third quarter of their football game on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, in Nashville, Tenn. Haynesworth was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from the game. (AP Photo/ John Russell)

[jwh_Denver]

You're thinking is absurd too. There would be no justice in judging anybody on what could have happened. If you drive a car could I judge you on what could have happened like killing somebody?

[jude24]

If you drive a car could I judge you on what could have happened like killing somebody?

That's called reckless driving ("unreasonably endangers users of a public highway"), and its a misdemeanor in New York (Veh. & Traf. Law 1212).

[jwh_Denver]

You are a total idiot.

[jude24]

You are a total idiot.

I get that a lot - usually when I'm right.

[RightOnline]

This is yet another reason why a 50-year-old, lifelong NFL fan hasn't watched one game this season.

Frankly.....and bluntly put....the NFL has been "home-boyed and thugged" as badly as the NBA. As a result, the NBA and the NFL are becoming completely unwatchable.

[sport]

His action was a criminal assault,as Cris Collinsworth said,not a ingame personal foul. He sould have been arrested and banished from the NFL.

[Vinomori]

When he comes back, he should not be allowed to wear cleats...ever again.

He should not be allowed to wear shoes or a cup ever again.

[Vinomori]

When he comes back, he should not be allowed to wear cleats...ever again.

He should not be allowed to wear shoes or a cup ever again.

[sport]

He doesn't want to play Dallas again. The commentators that were with Chris Collinsworth said that if the league or his tean did not take action that they considerate appropriate for the incident, they would take the law into their own hands.

They should end his career if the league does not banish him. This would send the message that this type conduct will not be tolerated

[NCC-1701]

Ah, the game was played in Nashville. Their police department would have jurisdiction. The Titans haven't played in Memphis for quite a while.

[HighWheeler]

"The incident took place on the field of play, there were no foreign objects, (although if you have ever been spiked or cleated it really is unpleasant) were used, the offender was dealt with during the game, and now by the league."

-- -- --

So according to your brilliant goober-logic, one player can grab another player's face mask, twirl him around a couple of spins, killing him or putting him in a wheelchair for life, and you would be perfectly satified that he only gets a 15 yard penalty for "unnecessary roughing".


You should stop posting to this thread. Each successive post of yours makes you look even more foolish.

You should Think, Then Post.

[AnnaZ]

It breaks my heart... the crap that my 10-year-old sits through because he's a football freak.

This thug should be banned -- for life.

[thinkthenpost]

Give me an example of your scenario please, I've never heard of someone dying by facemask, or even paralysis by facemask for that matter.
I merely posited that I thought the league should have gone one game more, the matter is ended for now, and I strongly disagree with those calling for criminal prosecution.
You can disagree, you can give your opinion on what the NFL and the player should have done, and you can present an incident that occurred, and I will give you my opinion on how that incident was and/or should have been handled and you can again agree or disagree with me. Since I don't work for the NFL, I'm not a prosecutor in Nashville, and I'm not a lawyer filing a civil suit for damages suffered by the Cowboys' center, my involvement in the incident pretty much ends at stating what I think about the suspension.

[HamiltonJay]

Again, you continue to try to morally equate malice with incidental contact.

What the guy did was assault, not clean play, not agressive play.

You seem to think dirty play is fine, its part of the sport... No its not. Things done with intentional malace, even if on the field of play are not "just part of sports"

I've had my knee blown twice from playing sports, everyone who plays sports knows injuries are part of the game... Someone engages in intentional malace with the intent to cause bodily harm, (other than fighting sports) should be charged, arrested and tried, no different than if someone had walked up to you on the street and done such things.

Assault is assault, and this a$$clown clearly engaged in it.. it wasn't incidental, it wasn't part of the game, it was flat out wanna be thug crapola.

Sorry, no 6 games wouldn't have been better.. Lifetime ban from the league and facing a jury would have been better.

This guy should have been frog marched right to jail for his actions.

[thinkthenpost]

Your opinion, you are welcome to it, I disagree.

The O-linemen in the league will make life hard for him upon his return, or is that not part of sports in your world either?

I'm done hope you have a great day.