Never Change NFL, Never Change: IK Enemkpali Suspended 4 Games For Breaking Geno Smith's Jaw

NFL has officially suspended IK Enemkpali for first 4 games for violating NFL personal conduct policy, per NFL spokesperson.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 11, 2015

You know when the NFL has officially become a parody of itself? When there's a situation that immediately reminds you of an actual cinematic parody of another professional sport.....

This small clip from Major League II, a classic COMEDY, is the only thing I can think of that's even relatively close to comparable to a linebacker receiving a four game suspension for punching someone, who at the time, was a teammate. Someone who not only owed him money, but someone that was also clearly instigating. Now don't get me wrong, the NFL has to do everything they can to protect their players, but I think that ends where the locker room begins. I think we can let the New York Jets handle this one. After all, the fact that they didn't make a big deal about IK Enemkpali getting suspended after they released him speaks volumes about how much responsibility for the confrontation they place on their, once starting, quarterback's shoulders. That's the only reason that IK Enemkpali is getting suspended anyway. No matter how bad you think Geno Smith is at playing quarterback, an injury to him potentially takes away from the quality of the NFL product. You know, "protect the shield", even if it makes you look like a completely biased buffoon. Imagine some alternate universe where Geno Smith knocked out IK Enemkpali. You think we would be talking about suspending a starting quarterback, or do you think we would be talking about how backup linebackers shouldn't pick fights with starting quarterbacks? The fact that Geno Smith is a known NFL commodity made all the difference in the world, even if the Jets are potentially better without him.  

I know a lot of people like to compare the original Ray Rice suspension to pretty much every other suspension the NFL hands down. Usually people are comparing it to substance abuse suspensions, or suspensions due to on-field transgressions. I was never one to do that, because usually they are completely separate situations. Well, for those people that like to bring up Rice's slap on the wrist, here is your golden opportunity. Here is a chance to laugh directly in the NFL's face. Ray Rice sucker punched a woman in an elevator before dragging her lifeless body out onto a casino floor and got suspended for two games. IK Enemkpali sucker punched a teammate, who was probably asking for it, in an NFL locker and got suspended for four games. There's a little glimpse down the dark, confusing road Roger Goodell has taken in his undying desire to discipline players. There's no consistency. Shit, there's not even a conceivable thought process. The punishments are so arbitrary you would think they spin a wheel to decide. You would think that jackass Roger Goodell was in NFL offices, blindfolded, throwing darts at potential disciplinary procedures. It's truly ass backwards, but I don't even think it matters anymore. If the complete ruse that was DeflateGate didn't get him fired than nothing will, so let's just try to ignore the fact that the sport we invest ourselves in is run by a hypocrite, and enjoy some meaningful football. Trust me, you won't even notice that IK Enemkpali isn't playing, which is pretty much the whole reason he is getting suspended in the first place.