List of players and coaches suspended by the NFL
The following is a list of players and coaches suspended by the National Football League (NFL). In the earliest known suspensions, players were banned for their role in gambling, but after Roger Goodell became commissioner, the league started cracking down on players performing violent hits, as well as violating the league's player conduct and substance policy, with 9 players being suspended in 2010; 8 of them were suspended for steroid use, and one was suspended for violating the personal conduct policy (Ben Roethlisberger).[1] In 2011, the league issued a memo stating that faking injuries can also lead to suspensions.[2] After the 2011 season was over, Goodell handed down one of the most severe suspensions in league history when he suspended eight New Orleans Saints players and coaches (four players, four coaches) for their involvement in the Saints bounty program.[3][4][5]
Contents |
Player suspensions[edit]
(*-Team suspension)
| Date(s) suspended | Suspension length | Name | Position | Team at the time of suspension | Reason | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Lifea | Frank Filchock Merle Hapes |
QBb RB |
New York Giants | Fixing the 1946 NFL Championship Game | [6] |
| 1963 | Entire season | Alex Karras Paul Hornung |
DT HBc |
Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers |
Betting on NFL games | [6] |
| 1983 1987 |
Entire season (1983) Life (1987) |
Art Schlichter | QB | Baltimore Colts (1983) Buffalo Bills (1987) |
Gambling | [7][8] |
| 1985 1987 1989 (pre-Super Bowl XXIII) |
Entire season (1985/1989) Life (1989) |
Stanley Wilson | RB | Cincinnati Bengals | Use of cocaine | [9] |
| 1986 | 2 games | Charles Martin | DE | Green Bay Packers | Body-slamming Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon | [10] |
| October 2, 2006 | 5 games | Albert Haynesworth | DT | Tennessee Titans | Stomping of Dallas Cowboys lineman Andre Gurode | [11] |
| April 10, 2007 | Entire 2007 season | Adam "Pacman" Jones | CB | Tennessee Titans | Attacking a stripper and threatening a security guard's life | [12] |
| April 2007 | 8 games | Chris Henry | WR | Cincinnati Bengals | Violating the league's player conduct policy | [13] |
| June 4, 2007 | 8 games | Terry "Tank" Johnson | DT | Chicago Bears | Alleged possession of six firearms and violation of probation on other charges | [14] |
| August 24, 2007 – July 27, 2009 | 2 gamesd | Michael Vick | QB | Atlanta Falcons | Involvement in dog fighting case | [15] |
| October 14, 2008 | Indefinite (ultimately was the minimum of 4 games) |
Adam "Pacman" Jones | CB | Dallas Cowboys | Involvement in an altercation with a bodyguard | [16] |
| November 18, 2008 | 1 game | Kellen Winslow* | TE | Cleveland Browns | Detrimental conduct | [17] |
| December 8, 2008 | 4 games (remainder of 2008 season) | Plaxico Burress* | WR | New York Giants | Accidental shooting of leg with firearm | [18] |
| August 13, 2009 | Entire 2009 season | Donte Stallworth | WR | Cleveland Browns | Crashed into a pedestrian while DUI | [19] |
| September 23, 2009 | Until release from prison | Plaxico Burress | WR | Free Agent (formerly with New York Giants) | Aforementioned accidental shooting | [20] |
| April 21, 2010 | 6 games (later reduced to 4 games) |
Ben Roethlisberger | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Sexual assault of a woman in Milledgeville, Georgia | [1] |
| July 1, 2010 | 3 games | Vincent Jackson | WR | San Diego Chargers | Violating the league's player conduct policy | [21] |
| December 7, 2010 | 4 games | Albert Haynesworth* | DT | Washington Redskins | Detrimental conduct | [22] |
| 2011 | 5 games | Terrelle Pryor | QB | Oakland Raiders | Involvement in Ohio State scandal | [23] |
| 2011 | 3 games | Cedric Benson | HB | Cincinnati Bengals | Misdemeanor assault | [24] |
| November 29 – December 11, 2011 | 2 games (Week 13 and 14) | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Detroit Lions | Stomping of Green Bay Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith | [25] |
| December 13, 2011 | 1 game (Week 15) |
James Harrison | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Violent tackle on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy | [26] |
| May 2, 2012 | Entire 2012 season 8 games 4 games 3 games |
Jonathan Vilma Anthony Hargrove Will Smith Scott Fujita |
LB LB DT DE |
New Orleans Saints | Involvement in bounty programe | [3] |
| August 20, 2012 | 3 games | Aaron Berry | CB | Free Agent (formerly with Detroit Lions) | Two arrests during the 2012 offseason | [27] |
| August 30, 2012 | 1 game | Kenny Britt | WR | Tennessee Titans | Various incidents involving police | [28] |
| September 25, 2012 | 1 game | Joe Mays | LB | Denver Broncos | Hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub | [29] |
Suspensions for violating the substance policy[edit]
After Goodell stepped up as commissioner in 2006, over 40 players have been suspended by the league for the use of performance-enhancing drugs, with Pro Bowler Shawne Merriman's suspension creating the "Merriman Rule", preventing players who tested positive for PEDs from playing in the Pro Bowl.[30]
Coach suspensions[edit]
(*-Team suspension)
| Date(s) suspended | Suspension length | Name | Position | Team at the time of suspension | Reason | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1 game | Chuck Fairbanks* | Head coach | New England Patriots | Breaching a contract with the Patriots by joining Colorado | [80] |
| September 1, 2007 | 5 games | Wade Wilson | Quarterbacks coach | Dallas Cowboys | Purchasing and using performance-enhancing drugs | [81] |
| August 31, 2010 | 30 days | Travis Jones | Defensive line coach | New Orleans Saints | Involvement in a real estate scam | [82] |
| December 13, 2010 | Indefinite | Sal Alosi* | Head strength and conditioning coach | New York Jets | Tripping Miami Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll | [83] |
| September 9, 2011 | 2 games | Andy Moeller | Offensive line coach | Baltimore Ravens | Driving under the influence | [84] |
| March 21, 2012 | Indefinite Enitire 2012 season 8 games 6 games |
Gregg Williamsh Sean Payton Mickey Loomis Joe Vitt |
Defensive coordinator Head coach General manager Assistant head coach/Linebackers coachg |
New Orleans Saints | Involvement in bounty program | [4][5] |
Notes[edit]
- ^a Filchock was reinstated in 1950, Hapes was reinstated in 1954
- ^b Filchock also played as a running back
- ^c Hornung also played as a safety and placekicker
- ^d Vick was cleared to play in the final two preseason games
- ^e The suspensions were later overturned[85]
- ^f Jackson will be eligible for reinstatement on August 31, 2013[61]
- ^g Vitt became the interim head coach in place of Payton, but due to his suspension, Vitt will be replaced by offensive line coach Aaron Kromer until his suspension ends[86]
- ^h Williams was originally going to be the defensive coordinator for the Rams[87][88]
See also[edit]
- National Football League controversies
- National Football League player conduct controversy
- Steroid use in American football
- List of players banned or suspended by the NBA
- List of people banned from Major League Baseball
References[edit]
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- ^ a b "ESPN.com: Page 2 : Biggest sports gambling scandals". Sports.espn.go.com. October 26, 1996. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
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- ^ Kay, Joe (November 5, 2007). "WR Chris Henry rejoins Bengals after completing 8-game suspension". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
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- ^ "Cowboys' Pacman gets in fight with bodyguard at Dallas hotel – NFL". ESPN. October 9, 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
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- ^ "NFL rules Pryor eligible, says he must sit out first five games". NFL.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- ^ "Benson suspension opens door to questions, criticism". NFL.com. September 23, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
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- ^ Paul Kuharsky (June 14, 2010). "Gerald McRath of Tennessee Titans suspended for first four games – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19. Text " emailNFLArchive " ignored (help)
- ^ "Free agent RB LenDale White suspended – Seahawks News". MyNorthwest.com. July 2, 2010. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
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- ^ "Shanahan reveals four-game suspension for CB Buchanon". NFL.com. August 2, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- ^ "NFL suspends Vikes' Williams, Saints' Smith in StarCaps case". NFL.com. September 2, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- ^ "Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller suspended 2 games for violating NFL’s personal conduct policy". Washington Post. September 9, 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ^ "Redskins’ Trent Williams and Fred Davis to be suspended for the rest of the season". Washington Post. December 4, 2011. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ "Seahawks rookie John Moffitt suspended for performance-enhancing drugs". Seattle Times. December 6, 2011. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
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- ^ "Brody Eldridge, St. Louis Rams TE, suspended four games". NFL.com. July 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
- ^ "Bears player Collins suspended for 1 game". UPI.com. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- ^ 2012-8-06-1-30-00. "NFL suspends Chiefs LB Tamba Hali 1 game – Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
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- ^ "San Francisco 49ers linebacker Clark Haggans suspended – San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
- ^ "Aqib Talib of Buccaneers suspended four games for Adderall use". National Football League. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
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- ^ "Cedric Griffin suspended for use of performance enhancing drugs". Washington Post. December 4, 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ "Backup tackle Jordan Black suspended for use of performance enhancing drugs". Washington Post. December 17, 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ "Rob Jackson facing four-game suspension for banned substance". Washington Post. March 20, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ Associated Press (2013-04-03). "Cardinals ILB Washington suspended for 4 games". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- ^ Long, Mark (2013-04-30). "Jaguars WR Blackmon suspended for substance abuse". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- ^ Sessler, Mark (May 17, 2013). "Bruce Irvin Suspended Four Games for PED Violation". National Football League. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ Alper, Josh (May 22, 2013). "Rokevious Watkins suspended one game". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- ^ Hanzus, Dan (2013-05-31). "Isaiah Pead suspended for substance abuse violation". National Football League. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
- ^ "Bears TE Miller suspended for four games". Yahoo! Sports. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
- ^ Kay, Joe (2013-06-07). "Browns WR Josh Gordon suspended for 2 games". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
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- ^ "ESPN – Dallas assistant wants Goodell to explain Belichick's punishment – NFL". Sports.espn.go.com. September 14, 2007. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Saints assistant coach suspended for role in real estate scam". Usatoday.Com. August 31, 2010. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ Jets suspend coach Sal Alosi indefinitely because of new information, Washington Post, December 15, 2010
- ^ "Baltimore Ravens coach Andy Moeller suspended two games – ESPN". Espn.go.com. September 9, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ "Saints player bounty suspensions overturned on appeal". NFL.com. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
- ^ Yasinskas, Pat. "Aaron Kromer logical fit as interim II coach – NFC South Blog – ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune (January 15, 2012). "New Orleans Saints, Gregg Williams appear ready to part ways – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
- ^ Sando, Mike. "Rams' Fisher counters perceptions on 'D' – NFC West Blog – ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
External links[edit]
- "Historical perspective on Vilma suspension". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2012-09-04.