With receiver Santonio Holmes already due to miss the first four games of the 2010 season after his latest violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, the Jets have gotten some good news regarding receiver Braylon Edwards.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Edwards won’t be suspended after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault in an incident only days before he was traded by the Browns to the Jets.
Though many expected a suspension of at least one game, the outcome meshes with the precedent set two years ago, after then-Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter received a fine in the amount of one game check after pleading no contest to beating up former Bengals tackle Levi Jones in a Las Vegas casino.
Thus, as to Edwards, we suspect he’ll be fined in the amount of one game check, which based on his salary equates to $256,176.47.
The development also is good news for Titans quarterback Vince Young, who faces misdemeanor assault allegations resulting from an incident at a strip club earlier this month.
Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for six games despite never being arrested suggested that a new attitude to offseason misconduct may apply going forward. The outcome as to Edwards suggests that Goodell will be inclined to inject some consistency into the process of meting out discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy.
That said, look for Steelers fans to cry foul regarding the perceived inconsistency between the treatment of Edwards and Roethlisberger. Still, Edwards was a first-time offender. The Roethlisberger situation proved that repeat occurrences will result in significant consequences.
So if Edwards gets in trouble again, he can expect a suspension. The only open question will be its duration.