Pacman Jones Could Be Suspended for Entire 2007 Season

Don Banks of SI.com reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is considering suspending cornerback Pacman Jones for the entire 2007 season, saying Goodell wants to make an example of the troubled Titan. An NFL source tells Banks:

"We can't tell the Titans that he won't play for them ever again, because the Titans, at the end of the day, will determine his long-term future. But the league will determine his short-term future. You should see something within a two or three-week time frame, and I would think you could expect a multiple-game suspension, or as much as a year or beyond.''

I don't particularly feel like defending Pacman Jones, but I have to say, from what we know so far, suspending him for an entire season would be far too harsh. Although there are reports that he instigated a fight that resulted in a man being shot and paralyzed, Jones has not been arrested in that incident. And although he has been arrested in other incidents, including at least one arrest that he didn't tell the Titans about (in violation of NFL rules), it's hard to see how it would be fair for the league to ban him when the judicial system says he's a free man.

However, the players' union has shown little to no enthusiasm for defending its players in cases like this, and if Goodell does decide to make an example of Jones, I think a suspension would be upheld.