Turf Show Times
With each passing day, the plot thickens around the future of Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson. The news around his arrest with charges of felony battery just gets worse. TMZ Sports is reporting that the alleged victim involved is pregnant, a horrible optic and an aggravating factor in the NFL Personal Conduct Policy concerning these types of charges.
This could end up being a very serious matter and not simply a standard 45 day suspension. Worst case scenario would be the Rams washing their hands of Jackson, unlikely, but within the realm of possibility. A crushing blow to Rams Super Bowl aspirations.
Here are excerpts from the official NFL policy with important passages in bold and below that, some possible player options to fill what is sure to be a minimum six week hole. TST has already covered Kansas City Chiefs tackle Wanya Morris, both pro and con.
Section I Expectations and Standards of Conduct
It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime in a court of law. We are all held to a
higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL,
and is lawful.
Players convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding (as defined in this
Policy) are subject to discipline. But even if the conduct does not result in a criminal conviction, players found to have engaged in any of the following conduct will be subject to discipline. Prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to the following:
▪Actual or threatened physical violence against another person, including dating violence,
domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of family violence;
▪Assault and/or battery, including sexual assault or other sex offenses…”
Section V Discipline
“…Depending on the nature of the violation and the player’s record, discipline may be a fine, a suspension for a fixed or an indefinite period of time, a combination of the two, or banishment from the league with an opportunity to reapply…With regard to violations of the Policy that involve: (i) criminal assault or battery (felony); (ii) domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse and other forms of family violence; or (iii) sexual assault involving physical force or committed against someone incapable of giving consent, a first violation will subject the violator to a baseline suspension without pay of six games, with possible upward or downward adjustments based on any aggravating or mitigating factors. The presence of possible aggravating factors may warrant a longer suspension. Possible aggravating factors include, but are not limited to, a prior violation of the Policy, similar misconduct before joining the NFL, violence involving a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when an act is committed against a particularly vulnerable person, such as a child, a pregnant woman, or an elderly person, or where the act is committed in the presence of a child. Possible mitigating factors include prompt acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with any league investigation, voluntary engagement with...
