Overboard?

Roger Goodell needs to use his "Personal Conduct" powers wisely. Thus far, I don't have a major problem with the way he's handling the players he views as deviants who are tarnishing the image of his league. But, his ruling on Bengals LB Odell Thurman is making me wonder if he's not getting caught up in trying to be a tough guy. Does Thurman really deserve to sit a whole year because of an alleged fight outside a bar? It seems like four games would be more reasonable. I understand that punishments are more significant for repeat offenders, but Joey Porter was just fined for his run-in with Levi Jones at a Vegas club. If Goodell is going to continue on this path, it might just open the door for a fledgling challenger to the NFL. Michael Vick would be a big name (and talent) for a new league, assuming he's not locked away for too long. A more relaxed leadership of another league would certainly appeal to me if I had been suspended by Goodell.