Washington cornerback Chris Culliver has been suspended one game by the NFL for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy that occurred long before he was a member of the team, the club announced today (via Twitter). Culliver will miss Week 2’s game against the Rams as a result of the penalty.
Culliver, who signed with Washington in free agency this past March, reportedly hit a bicyclist, fled the scene, and threatened a citizen with brass knuckles back in March of 2014. The 27-year-old was originally charged with misdemeanor hit and run and felony possession of brass knuckles. However, his attorneys got the felony charge reduced a misdemeanor and Culliver pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges earlier this year.
The four-year, $32MM deal that Culliver signed with Washington earlier this year calls for base salaries of $8MM in the final three years, but only a $3MM salary this year. That means the former 49ers cornerback will only lose about $176K in salary as a result of his one-game ban.
While Culliver goes on the reserve/suspended list for the week, fellow Washington cornerback Bashaud Breeland comes off of it. Breeland served his own one-game suspension this past weekend, and will be eligible to return to the field for the club’s Week 2 contest.
Private Lives should be kept private. We are all flawed but this NFL personal conduct policy that the owners hang over the players heads is just an oppressive tactic . If its really about “protecting the shield” then it should be enforced equally for all stakeholders including franchise owners, their family members, league officials, coaches…etc. But you don’t see Jerry Jones suspended from attending games or 1/16 to 1/2 of his income taken away for his embarrassing videos of him with hookers, or Jim Irsay getting arrested for DUI & a bag of drugs & money in his trunk. Tagliabue & Rosell didn’t air the players dirty laundry like Goddell does & the Players-Owners relationship was much better back then. Fans are sick of Goddell’s BS