Marshawn Lynch Suspended 3 Games

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ESPN.com's Michael Smith is reporting that Bills' running back Marshawn Lynch will be suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the first three games of the 2009 season. The suspension is a result of Lynch's violation of the league's personal conduct policy stemming from his arrest in February on gun charges.

Smith adds that the official announcement could come as soon as Thursday. Also, Lynch is expected to appeal the suspension.

Lynch was arrested February 11in Culver City, California after officials found a loaded hand gun in the vehicle that he was riding in. The rusher was charged and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and three-years' probation.

This is the second time within the last year that he has been in trouble with the law. Lynch admitted striking a female pedestrian and leaving the scene of the accident last year. The incident occurred in the Chippewa district on May 31. He pleaded guilty to a traffic violation, and had his driver's license revoked and also paid a fine as a result.

Goodell did not discipline Lynch for the incident. The Bills selected Lynch in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, 12th overall.

 

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Look For Lynch Suspension To Be Reduced On Appeal

Look For Lynch Suspension To Be Reduced On Appeal

this article is from profootball talk....

Posted by Mike Florio on April 9, 2009, 8:50 a.m. EDT

Now that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has imposed a three-game suspension on Bills running back Marshawn Lynch for violation of the league?s personal conduct policy, look for Lynch to appeal the ruling to . . . NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Though the man who imposed the sentence is the same man who?ll decide whether to change the sentence, Goodell hasn?t been bashful about reducing penalties on appeal.

Last year, for example, the Commissioner cut receiver Brandon Marshall?s suspension via the appeal process.

The goal in this regard, in our view, is to demonstrate that the current system to which the union agreed ? with the Commissioner as serving as judge, jury, executioner, appeals court, and governor ? is effective and does not need to change. In theory, this could force the union to give up something tangible in order to change the system via the upcoming collective bargaining process.

NFLPA Executive Director finalist David Cornwell has argued that all discipline imposed by the league and by the individual teams should be referred to third-party arbitration.

Meanwhile, Lynch?s financial consequences will be limited to his lost game checks, for two reasons.

First, the recent Plaxico Burress and Larry Johnson grievance rulings insulate players from signing bonus forfeitures based on a suspension.

Second, Lynch likely didn?t receive a signing bonus, given the manner in which most first-round contracts are now structured.

Lynch?s bigger problem is that, with one more false move, he likely faces a very substantial suspension. He avoided any discipline last year after the hit-and-run fiasco from which he tried to hide for a month or so. His next offense will be his third, and the league has made clear its position that multiple offenders will be dealt with harshly.