Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who was suspended indefinitely earlier this month, will meet with the league office sometime this week to discuss his ban, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Kendricks’ suspension, of course, stems from his involvement in insider trading, to which he has pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced in January 2019 and could receive 30 to 37 months in prison.
As a result, Kendricks, his lawyers, and the NFLPA have been battling to prove that the NFL does not have the right to impose an indefinite suspension under these circumstances. Although the indefinite suspension was upheld on appeal, arbitrator Harold Henderson’s written ruling suggested that a more specific punishment should be forthcoming. Some sources familiar with the situation, however, believe the league wants to postpone such a decision until after Kendricks is sentenced.
Florio opines that the NFL should impose a suspension of a fixed number of games and should do it quickly out of fairness to Kendricks. He adds that, since the standard punishment for first-time domestic violence offenders is a six-game suspension, Kendricks should be banned for at most four games, and Florio says there is no good reason a decision in that regard has not been made already. Kendricks’ suspension has forced him to miss Seattle’s last two contests, though the team is on a bye this week.
He was playing well in his brief time as a Seahawk, posting 15 tackles and two sacks in three games with the club. Seattle, at 3-3, would certainly like to have him back soon, and Kendricks — who may be 31 when he is released from prison — is obviously anxious to get back on the field while he still can.
It’s puzzling why the NFL continues to be so inconsistent in how it handles discipline cases. At this point, they’re essentially punishing him more severely than in a domestic abuse or drug use case. It simply adds to the questions of the NFL leadership’s willingness and ability to govern the league.
It is baffling indeed.
The NFL are being mean girls!
They’re coming to meet with him at the prison ?
He hasn’t been sentenced yet. He pleaded guilty and returned the money. His sentencing is in January.
How is an 8 game suspension fair?? What about Phil Mickelson’s suspension?? Yes, Mychal Kendricks was charged, but there is no conviction! I question if there is even a case?? I hope that this suspension is overturned!!!