Will Jameis Winston Get Greg Hardy Treatment?
April 24th, 2015
What’s fair and just is not the NFL’s top concern.
That was the message yesterday from NFL insider Mike Florio of NBC Sports and ProFootballTalk.com fame.
The recent Greg Hardy 10-game suspension, on the heels of his 15 games off last year — for a guy not deemed guilty by the legal system — isn’t sitting well with Florio.
Joe recommends the video below. Florio says the league is “arguably oversensitive” and “has an inclination to overpunish” because its primary concern is public relations when it comes to player discipline. (There’s plenty more in the video).
Joe can’t help but think about where Roger Goodell and the NFL really stand on Jameis Winston. What happens if Goodell and friends don’t like something that appears later in the civil suit against Winston filed by his sexual assault accusers? The NFL already has shown its happy to punish first and worry about reality later.
The league has changed drastically. Take Aqib Talib, for example. In the new NFL, he would have been ousted after his family gunplay outing on the streets of Garland, Texas. Never mind that Talib had the charges dropped. Back in 2011, Talib was unpunished.
Yeah, Joe is leery about how Goodell might come after Winston, the presumptive Bucs quarterback.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:08 am
I have been saying this for months. In this new NFL a guy with this much smoke wont be on the field for long. The fact he hasn’t been convicted of anything doesnt matter. As you said….look at the Hardy case…..if there is something they dont like they WILL suspend him. As good as he is on the field he is too much of a risk off the field…which is why the pick will be MM or a trade IMO
April 24th, 2015 at 11:11 am
Hardy was clearly quilty, he paid his way out of it.
It’s like saying Michael jackson didnb’t touch kids.
I’m glad the NFL doesn’t get caught in the trap that is the flaws of our legal system.
NFl isn’t a right, it’s a company. And obviously guilty idiots shouldn’t be allowed.
NFL needs to hang a sign, No Shoes, No Shirt, treating Women like punching bags, no Service.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Goodell is an assclown who needs to be cut out of the NFL like the cancer he is.
Of course he’s probably trying to fine Joe for this post as we speak.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:14 am
Winston doesn’t seem like a bad guy at all, but his image is really bad in the mainstream population. We won’t be bringing that baggage to OBP, u can count on that…. LOL, Joes… That Jameis Bucs’ jersey is going to go down in history with the Ryn Leaf Colts’ jersey…. And man, TKras was preaching yesterday. Finally, a member of the media was being logical… And FYI, all Logic points to Mariota being our draft pick.
I can hear Lovie next week at his 1st introductory press conference: ‘First off, let me say that Marcus is the type of man we look for when adding players to our team. And you all know that we want athletes at every position. We, as an organization, unanimously feel like Marcus embodies every quality and attribute that we covet in a player and in a QB. We truly believe that he will be an asset to our team and this community for many years to come.’
April 24th, 2015 at 11:19 am
Holy cow joe. Welcome to the real world. You actually have a concern about Jameis- your boy toy being drafted. Wow. Was that difficult for you?
April 24th, 2015 at 11:20 am
Please…give me a break. TKas is just like Deumig. Neither of them have ever liked Winston and try to act like they are neutral. There is nothing similar with Hardy and Winston at all. Winston’s case is a cash grab and Hardy gave cash because he was actually found guilty. I can’t help the people who refuse to see the difference.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:22 am
Please…give me a break. TKas is just like LilPuppy. Neither of them have ever liked Winston and try to act like they are neutral. There is nothing similar with Hardy and Winston at all. Winston’s case is a cash grab and Hardy gave cash because he was actually found guilty. I can’t help the people who refuse to see the difference.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:27 am
I’m pretty sure the NFL cannot hold someone accountable to the nuances of the collective bargaining agreement if that person was not governed by the cba at the time of the (alleged) incident…
I would think that would open them up for a good lawsuit.
April 24th, 2015 at 11:27 am
Yep -times have changed, so buckle up
April 24th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Structure and discipline don’t come naturally to some people. They need to be forced into acting differently. I’m sure even Joe’s company has a code of conduct. If it wasn’t for football the Glazers wouldn’t let a guy with Winston’s character into the building.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #BrainDeadRetard
April 24th, 2015 at 11:35 am
Could be the way the world freaked the eff out on them about Ray Rice. If the pussification of America wasn’t so strong the NFL could stay the man’s game it was meant to be. Any body see the way Bryant Gumble put down Harbaugh because he the nerve to say football is the last place to truly be a man?
April 24th, 2015 at 11:37 am
I agree that the NFL has to establish and enfore a strict level of dicipline, but not to this extreme. Uncle Roger has let everybody know that he is in charge, period.
It really does show that teams have to put a huge emphasis on Character and Behavior now when adding players.
The Bucs can’t afford a swing and a miss with this #1 pick. If they do draft Winston and he continues his Idiotic, Immature, Egotistical behavior, he and Uncle Roger will be seeing a whole lot of each other. Since he will be on a very short lish anyway, trouble for him will be a given. With Winston, red flags and storm warnings are everywhere, so if the Bucs do decide to draft him regardless, then when things with him blow up and that #1 pick turns out to be a waste, thay will have nobody to blame but themselves. And considering most Bucs fans don’t want him to be drafted here in the first place, that would really fracture the fan base. Winston IS NOT worth taking that chance
April 24th, 2015 at 11:39 am
I wouldnt let a person of Barry’s character into my building
#doesntknowhowtousehashtags #racist #doesntunderstandhowPEDswork #BrainDeadRetard
April 24th, 2015 at 11:41 am
#notsureifheknowswhatDPis
April 24th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Let burn these trouble makers on the stake while we profit from there overly aggressive nature, size and strength. Sounds oddly familiar.
“Given the fact that 65 percent of NFL players are black, and team scouts and doctors are overwhelmingly white, the images produced at the Combine call forth the slavery comparison at its grizzliest: the sight of scantily-clad, muscle-bound black men being measured under the gaze of white men with dollar signs for eyes brings the auction block to mind whether or not you want to acknowledge it. And beyond the physical examination, there’s the sight of the black male body at work: running, jumping, exerting its energy to its limits for the ultimate satisfaction of the collective gaze of NFL stakeholders and fans.”
April 24th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Barry,
How do you know Winston’s character? When was he last time you hung out with him? You’re so ignorant, it’s embarrassing to know that we cheer for the same team. You’re the type of guy that would smile and put your arm around him if you ever ran into him. You’re an internet tough guy, hiding behind his non-working hash tags. #barrylikeslittleboys #isawbarrykissingsantaclaus #barryvotedobama
April 24th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Every player should get the Greg Hardy treatment. They should all be held accountable for their own actions and every player should operate under exactly the same rules and code of conduct.
Playing in the NFL is a Privilege, not a Right, and every player should realize how blessed and fortunate they are to be in the NFL and should conduct themselves accordingly
April 24th, 2015 at 11:50 am
BuccoDav
I’m pretty sure the NFL cannot hold someone accountable to the nuances of the collective bargaining agreement if that person was not governed by the cba at the time of the (alleged) incident…
Thats pretty much was is happening the Hardy case. Like it or not….the guy wasnt convicted of anything but they are penalizing him based on the new discipline rules for an event that took place before those new rules were in place.
For those saying the cases are nothing alike…..ok…fine…one is sexual assault and another is domestic abuse.
For those (same people) saying its a cash grab. What possible benefit would the supposed cash grabber have to lower the amount of money that winston has?
If what you say is true that person would want them to have MORE money for them to grab. Look that girl feels she was assaulted. None of us was there and we can all agree i think that the TPD “investigation” was pretty laughable if it wasnt sad.
Others will say that “FSU cleared him as did an independent arbiter”
Sure FSU has and had NO reason to want to find the guy innocent.
The independent arbiter I understood he was a former nole…but i could be wrong there.
Btw….Winston’s lawyer disclosed the victim’s name via twitter
http://jezebel.com/jameis-winstons-lawyer-posts-victims-name-on-twitter-1654771307
so ALL this…..on once incident. nevermind the other dumb crap the guy has done
April 24th, 2015 at 11:58 am
Underdog
I agree with you 100%. The sense of entitlement that these young athletes have today is mind boggling. They all need the same guidelines to operate under and if they can’t abide by those rules, then they can seek employment elsewhere
April 24th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
ws99 says:
Let burn these trouble makers on the stake while we profit from there overly aggressive nature, size and strength. Sounds oddly familiar.
“Given the fact that 65 percent of NFL players are black, and team scouts and doctors are overwhelmingly white, the images produced at the Combine call forth the slavery comparison at its grizzliest: the sight of scantily-clad, muscle-bound black men being measured under the gaze of white men with dollar signs for eyes brings the auction block to mind whether or not you want to acknowledge it. And beyond the physical examination, there’s the sight of the black male body at work: running, jumping, exerting its energy to its limits for the ultimate satisfaction of the collective gaze of NFL stakeholders and fans.”
seems all too true. yet one look at the SB champs and you’ll notice the entire offense is white fuys. heck if you were to go by their standards, just hire the big white boys for OL and skill positions and throw a brother back there to sun. the Defense, yeah put em over there to attack.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
to run…
April 24th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Sam Says
For those saying the cases are nothing alike…..ok…fine…one is sexual assault and another is domestic abuse.
______________________________________________________________
What Sam Says is wrong; one is domestic abuse (Hardy) and the other is nothing (Winston) because the allegations have been rebuked/dismissed.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
I employ 16 people. I pay them well, take good care of them and treat them like they are my extended family. However, they all know what is expected of them and what they are suppose to do and how they are suppose to act. If they violate any of that, they know it’s SEE YA. It keeps them in line and productive and the workplace happy
April 24th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Rob9
Legerret Blount and the the receiver but yup the rest are white. Hell the celtics start 4 white boys AND they’re in the playoffs.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
I would think that is why Winston made the trip to NY and talked to Godell to clear everything up, and let him hear directly what happened.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Erik, Id be ok with Mariota, but I want Winston. That being said, I can SO see Lovie saying that.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
4th And 5
April 24th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
“Every player should get the Greg Hardy treatment. They should all be held accountable for their own actions and every player should operate under exactly the same rules and code of conduct.
Playing in the NFL is a Privilege, not a Right, and every player should realize how blessed and fortunate they are to be in the NFL and should conduct themselves accordingly”
——
Although in principle I agree with you, let’s look at the other side of the coin. How can you punish someone who hasn’t even been charged, or is found not guilty? Greg Hardy’s punishment is fine with me (he pled guilty), but I am 100% against the commissioner being the judge and jury. It sets a really bad precedent that just the accusation alone constitutes a punishment. If that’s the case, teams should start sending out women to claim rape against opponent’s players, since there isn’t any proof required.
Yes, playing in the NFL is a privilege, but let’s not forget what kind of a sport it is and who plays it. It’s not played by choir boys, and if it was, nobody would watch it. 90% of the fans could care less what kind of character guys are out there on the field. They are there to watch people knock the crap out of each other. People are becoming so damn PC nowadays, and it’s getting out of control. I realize the intention is good, but to get to the point where a dictator like Goddell can punish people that the law cannot is pretty ridiculous.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
@ WS99
Except one very big difference…every athlete at the Scouting Combine is there under their own free will instead of in shackles. Usually cool with your posts even if I don’t necessarily agree with you, but the Combine = Slavery comparison is a stretch IMO anyway.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
4th and 5…
April 24th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Unless you were being sarcastic and I was too dim witted this morning to catch it, at which point I retract above statements 🙂
April 24th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
One thing so many people don’t realize (that I realized a while ago) is that we really don’t know these guys. We have very little knowledge about their character, and that’s just fine. I remember meeting Charles Barkley in the early 90s, when he was considered a villain, and overall a jerk. He couldn’t have been any nicer. I met Emmitt Smith, who most people think of as a great guy, and he was a complete douche. Darrelle Revis – extremely nice and soft spoken. I’ve got some pretty shocking stories from friends that have worked the hotel where the players stay for Pro Bowl, and trust me when I say some of the guys we think are high character guys aren’t exactly what we think. And of course vice versa. There is a very prominent NFL player with a squeaky clean reputation that threatened to kill a bartender and his family because he wouldn’t give him a drink, even though the bar had been closed for an hour.
It’s truly best if you just admire their play on the field, and not pretend like you know them. Some guys that you think are the devil can actually be pretty nice guys, and some guys that you think are saints are pretty horrible people. Stop trying to judge, and just watch the games and enjoy their play.
April 24th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Sam Says
Thats pretty much was is happening the Hardy case. Like it or not….the guy wasnt convicted of anything but they are penalizing him based on the new discipline rules for an event that took place before those new rules were in
place.
_______________________________________________________________
Sam you really have no idea what you are talking about do you? I am now convinced you have overheard other people talking about this case and you feel like you have the correct information. I am also convinced you have never seen a sports section within a newspaper, know the channel #’s for ESPN or NFL Network, or how to navigate through the internet to find Google to get you some CORRECT information. So since I am a nice person, I have posted a link below click on it and you WILL see for yourself that Hardy WAS found GUILTY.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11220817/greg-hardy-carolina-panthers-guilty-2-counts-domestic-violence
Except Hardy, as Joe types, has no criminal record. The bench trial judge’s decision was thrown out. Hardy requested a jury trial and the State dropped the case. Keep in mind it could have happened even without the complaining witness showing up. But North Carolina passed. –Joe
April 24th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
Ugh… I find that especially when it concerns disciplinary action towards players who have screwed up off the field, the “White Knight Brigade” comes out to shame these players. With Jameis and Hardy, seems that this fanbase is no different.
Screw entitlement, luck to be playing the game, or who these players actually are – the NFL has been making waves of hype and $$$ (while trying to establish their own White Knight image) all based around how they deal with these certain issues. And Florio is spot-fking-on when he says that this is a PR sham. In the real world, Hardy was never convicted. He paid the chick to keep silent and she did. If Hardy was some schmo like you and me, he would be walking the streets SCOT FREE! And that is how the justice system works. But the NFL has brain-washed the fanbase of the NFL into not looking at any legal precedents, but what is best for the image of the league and their respective favorite teams. And 90% of the Winston and Hardy haters fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Toes
Lol, blame Megan Livingston, she wrote it. I just find it fitting as do others. I was reminded of this bc of a TV show I saw recently that made the exact comparison. I want to say it was SNL but it could have been key and peele.
To me all this holier than thou bs is like Sapp complaining about the moral sin of prostituion. Hypocrisy at its finest.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Some of you keep saying Greg Hardy was never convicted. Please do a google search on Greg Hardy convicted and see if he was. He was convicted people!! HUGE difference. Plus Greg Hardy is a member of the NFLPA and thus his actions are governed by the NFL’s CBA. Winston has not had ANY incidents since signing he showing up for the combine, which is the first time the NFL can even begin to assign punishment. Hell AP’s suspension got overturned because his infraction was under the old CBA, Winston is even less connected to the CBA/personal conduct policy. Just because someone on the radio or internet says something, doesn’t make it true. Stop being lazy and research yourselves.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Bucs to take Marcus not because he is the “better qb”, he is the guy who won’t embarrass the Buc organization. I want a player who will be there week in and week out. Not a guy destined for suspension or worse. Go Bucs!
April 24th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
If we weren’t worried about Winston off the field, then this wouldn’t be a concern…
6 more days til the madness ends
April 24th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Why don’t we accuse Goodell of assaulting us? By NFL policy, just being accused of such a thing should get him suspended for at least 6 weeks, right? And then we can just keep repeating the accusations and he’ll be gone in no time. Sounds simple enough to me.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Let’s not forget that 90% of fans yes 90% wanted to sign Greg Hardy. So he’s not an embarrassment but winston is? I just don’t understand the logic.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
It’s clear I’ve not been a Jameis apologist. But he is NOT Greg Hardy.
The major difference…all the hand guns on the bed when he was abusing his girlfriend. I was taught in the Army never point a gun, or display a gun, unless you intend to use it. For Hardy to shove the girl around in a room with plenty of loaded weapons, and threatening her…that’s just really, really wrong.
Jameis played with toy guns not the real thing. I know it’s Florida and we’re supposed to go orgasmic over guns but I’m alway disturbed when players are involved with guns. Talib has just skated through another incident where the allegation is either he or a friend brandished a gun during a fight at a bar.
Who was the Giant receiver who moronically shot himself? When dudes start hanging out in bars with guns it’s time to cut them loose. Fameis has not been involved in gun play or threats with guns…Hardy has. There is a world of difference.
April 24th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Winston will not be punished by the NFL for acts he “may” have committed before he enters. There will likely be some pretty nasty stuff coming from the civil trial and likely new evidence not yet known.
It will be a PR problem for Winston the Bucs and the NFL…..but Winston only stands to lose financially & reputation wise.
He will, however be on a very short leash.
“Circle the Wagons”
April 24th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Same old tired rhetoric…from the same old posters repeating the same old nonsense.
I’m taking the day off from JBF. Have fun repeating yourselves.
April 24th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Bucs 1987
NO!! Please don’t go! We all need some good laughs today from the resident Village Idiot
April 24th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
I am SOOOO over the whole rape thing. None of us were there that night so none of us will Ever know what happened so it is a non-issue to me. He says she says far as Im concerned I am FAR more concerned about the stealing and wilful destruction to other peoples hard earned stuff and yelling obscenities While under investigation knowing the spotlight is on him. This shows either blatant ignorance or blatant disregard for others. But I get paid to build houses not pick athletes so if the Bucs braintrust take him then I am all for it.
April 24th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
1. As another poster pointed out, Hardy was found guilty by a judge. Granted, this is not a jury which would have been the case for his appeal, however Hardy has been found nothing but guilty and Winston has yet to be found guilty by anybody.
2. The NFL might be overstepping its bounds with Hardy by applying the new stricter rules, however he is unquestionably still accountable for abiding by the old rules. Winston is not subject to any form of a CBA for any actions prior to the combine.
3. There is substantial “evidence” in the Hardy case, including an eyewitness and the phone call reporting the crime, physical evidence of abuse, and of course the presence of the weapons. None of this exists in Winstons case, which as far as I am aware is limited exclusively to her claim.
We’re all entitled to our opinion of how he will conduct himself moving forward, but a civil suit addressing an event 3 years before he joined the league is not going to matter.
April 24th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Bill
Well done sir! You continue to represent the Winstonites well with reasonable well thought out posts.
April 24th, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Joe, those of us who know anything about blogs and media realize you make your money on hits, the people seeing all these ads lining the perimeter of your pages. So, it makes sense if you keep pushing the “bad boy” Jameis Winston, the controversial pick, you’re going to get more hits than if you supported the “good son” Marcus Mariota.
Really not the case at all. Frankly, very few people really understand the dynamics about blogs and media, especially something team-specific, which is a totally different animal from BSPN or a mainstream newspaper. Joe doesn’t generate traffic because of stories about Jameis Winston. They’re some of the least read on this site. Joe’s support has nothing to do with traffic. Most people think traffic around here is highest when the Bucs lose and Joe can rant and rage, and there are hundreds of comments. The exact opposite is true. Just a tiny bit of education.
With that said, and your self-interest on the table, when are you going to figure it out – the NFL is a private organization. As such and with few exceptions they can rule out damned near anyone for damned near any reason they please. It’s not about due process, fairness, or the American way. It’s all about what the NFL perceives is good for the NFL, period. So, if the NFL wants to sit Winston for say, a season, because of the crab legs he shoplifted a year ago, that’s the way it will be.
Makes you kinda want to rethink the Winston/Mariota equation doesn’t it? Or, even rethink the Winston/Mike Glennon equation. After all, Glennon throwing passes behind a good offensive line (trade the #1 pick to build the line) is better than Winston watching a poor offensive line allowing Glennon to get killed from the Raymond James luxury boxes.
April 24th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
If the bucs have as much info on Winston as I’m hearing about hardy.. Don’t draft him…