Fully understand the philosophical debate re: presumed innocence before being labeled guilty as charged, and how damning that mindset could be. I completely understand that, and agree with you.

But what we’re missing is the NFL’s completely arbitrary “personal conduct policy”. And an innocent criminal verdict, heck, even if he isn’t prosecuted, doesn’t necessarily weigh into that calculus. Goodell can punish regardless of criminality. Through the CBA, players have given the commish carte blanche to do as he wills, outside of appeals, re: “personal conduct”.

I doubt that dynamic is foreign to those who fall under the shield.