I completely agree with you. I pulled this from the NFLPA contract from 2006:

Article VIII Club Discipline-Conduct detrimental to club: Conduct detrimental to Club—maximum fine of an amount equal to one week’s salary and/or suspension without pay for a period not to exceed four (4) weeks. This maximum applies without limitation to any deactivation of a player in response to player conduct (other than a deactivation in response to a player’s on-field playing ability), and any such deactivation, even with pay, shall be considered discipline subject to the limits set forth in this section.

Article XI Commissioner discipline-Section 1 league discipline: Article (a) subsection (b) action taken against a player by the Commissioner for
conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game
of professional football, will be processed exclusively as follows: the Commissioner will promptly send written notice of his action to the player, with a copy to the NFLPA. Within twenty (20) days following such written notification, the player affected thereby, or the NFLPA with the player’s approval, may appeal in writing to the Commissioner.

Is the 2011 contract available for public view yet?