Originally posted by ModestoNiner33:
Originally posted by Scoots:
The CBA doesn't explicitly detail the punishment for a felony speeding crash. The DUI is literally not something that can be dodged if he did it ... he MUST get at least a 3 game suspension ... if he did it. And they don't need to wait for the courts to decide.
Rice left a multiple car crash he caused, who's to say he wasn't drunk? All I know is if the NFL doesn't mind letting Rice get away with this haneous act then they should look the other way on Robinson. I know they won't because of precidence you pointed out.
The police say he wasn't drunk. And the NFL has yet to rule on Rice pending the criminal case, but it is still hanging over his head.
The big distinction is that the NFL is waiting on the process before they punish Rice, and I have little doubt he will be punished since he admitted he did it, and depending on the criminal case it could be severe (but probably not more than a few games). At the moment he's on the books for 8 criminal charges. Why it's taking so long requires a bunch of speculation ... one of the stranger ones is that his lawyer is also a Senator and has been given basically a blanket continuance on all of his cases while he's working for the state which is kind of amazing. But that, the fact that so many charges and so many people are involved, and probably back room negotiations on a plea deal is why he hasn't been punished yet.
Robinson's DUI triggers specific punishment agreed on in the CBA, and Robinson was allowed to play after the DUI because the Rams said he "took responsibility for his actions" and they were going to leave the punishment to the NFL.
The only reason I can think of that the NFL hasn't already punished him is because once he's suspended he may not be able to participate with the 49ers in some (or all) elements of the process (not allowed to practice, train, be in the facility, contact any personnel of the team, etc) of getting ready for the season, so they are holding back the punishment as a favor to him and the 49ers. The league could allow all that contact after the punishment is assigned but it's easier to just wait to announce the punishment. This is, as I'm lead to understand, not uncommon. I don't think that can possible extend into the regular season unless there is some actual evidence that he wasn't DUI.