G504

I went to Penn Law School, which is a pretty good school (sorry Tulane). I now teach at University of Miami, few schools better (sorry LSU). I did criminal defense for a couple years out of law school, and I've studied a fair about of criminal justice theory. I all my years, I have never come across one credibility theory that supports the notion that excessively high punishments actually deter crime. They only result in making the people consider the governing body arbitrary and unjust. It doesn't work with the death penalty, it doesn't work with million dollar lawsuits for illegally downloading music, it's not going to work here. Sure, maybe people will stop using the word "bounty" (just like people took to calling illegal downloading "file sharing"), but defensive players will continue to target Pro-Bowlers just back from injury. Or those too old and slow (like Warner) or rookies (like Cam). Or those that just don't get their fair share of flags (I'll PAY the Saints $500,000 fine if you can prove no team ever discussed hitting Vick extra because he doesn't get as many flags as say a Tom Brady).

http://www.darrylbercegeay.com/wsmith1.jpg

QBREES9

In NASCAR they say if you're not cheating your not winning. This type of punishment was way way way out of line.

Danno

The death penalty definitely deters the perpetrator from murdering someone again.

foreverfan

alexonfyre

So does life in prison and....NEVER MIND!! NOT GOING THERE!! BACK TO BAD MOUTHING GOODELL!

QBREES9

SMU football

Look Ahead

Auburn,Oregon, The U, USC

Danno

He didn't claim life in prison didn't deter crime.

G504

OK, didn't mean to sound insensitive about the death penalty comment. Focusing on the illegal downloading, it's just as prevalent as ever when everybody thought the lawsuits would stop it. Didn't one of the Giants admit on camera they targeted a 49er that "had a lot of concussions"? Where's his 8 century suspension?

Halo

As a legal mind I want to ask you G504 a few questions:

1) Where has the NFL made the nexus between the Saints "Bounty" system and injury to players in the NFL?

2) Suspending Sean Payton - Saints head coach, and Gregg Williams - Rams defensive coordinator, thereby penalizing the Saints and Rams, how do these equate justice for players and the league?

3) Do you believe the NFL owners will allow for this? (ie.each of them could be next over whatever scandal or breaking of rules or constitutional laws of the NFL and could cost their teams $$$)

4) In the fallout over this penalty, will Roger Goodell eventually fall on the bad end of the PR game and possible be asked to resign?

Keep in mind recent precedents including Spygate where the Pats lost a 1st round pick and Bilick was FINED and not SUSPENDED over a cheating scandal whereby the Pats were video taping teams illegally to gain an advantage over the opposing team on gameday.